Interaction with Families Policy

Background

As outlined in the National Quality Standard, the Early Years Learning Framework and in My Time, Our Place, the education and care needs of children cannot be met without effective partnerships between Little Learners Day Care Centre (‘The Service’) and its families. Regular and clear communications are vital in developing and maintaining effective partnerships.

Policy statement

This Policy outlines the Service’s commitment to partnerships between the Service and families and the many avenues of communication in place to sustain these partnerships.

Strategies and practices

The Service is committed to working in partnerships with families to best meet the education and care needs of the children. This commitment is communicated to parents at enrolment and during orientation, as is the belief that effective partnerships can only be achieved when information is exchanged regularly and in simple terms.

The Service’s enrolment and orientation processes are designed to be the beginning of the partnership. Parents are asked to provide as much information as possible about their child and the family background (e.g. cultural, religious, food preferences), and are provided with detailed verbal and written information about the Service and its practices. Refer to the Service’s Enrolment and Orientation Policy.

During enrolment and orientation, parents are asked about their preferred way of receiving information from the Service and how best for them to communicate with the Service.

The Service uses many avenues to exchange information with families. These include:
- Face to face
- Notice boards
- Suggestion box
- Emails
- Facebook

Information about community resources and support agencies in the local community is provided to parents to support parenting and family wellbeing.

The Service may suggest translation services for non-English speaking families.

The Service uses a wide variety of means for parents to contribute to the program, and document how their contributions have been used. Refer to the Service’s Educational Program Policy. The means include:

Family and Child Information on Enrolment.
Provision for parent’s comments on the Daily Program, Individual Child’s Records, Learning Stories and Child’s Learning Summary Sheet
Catching Family Input

Parents are encouraged to raise any concerns they may have about any aspect of the Service’s operations. Refer to the Service’s Grievance and Complaints Policy.

Information about children’s wellbeing is routinely communicated to parents. (e.g. illness or injuries, food and nutrition intake, sleep/rest times, nappy changes).

The Service’s Policies and Procedures are reviewed annually. Parents are actively encouraged to be part of the review and to suggest any changes they consider necessary. They are provided with written feedback when their contributions are included.

Wherever possible, proposed changes to the Service’s operations are communicated to families some weeks prior to the implementation so that families have an opportunity to comment on and adjust to the change.

Information from parents about their child remains confidential. (Refer to the Service’s Privacy and Confidentiality Policy).

Parents are welcome at the Service at any time. In addition, the Service actively seeks their involvement in its daily activities
- To share aspects of their culture and talents
- To help prepare morning and afternoon tea for special occasions
- To prepare and assist in craft activities.
Educators discuss requirements in relation to the National Quality Standards as part of the Staff Meeting. Staff are also encouraged to make suggestions and give feedback in their monthly reflections.

Additional safe practices for babies

To ensure each baby’s needs and requirements are fully communicated to educators each day because babies undergo rapid growth and development (e.g. teething), and their responses to certain foods and medications are as yet unknown.
To accurately communicate information about their baby’s last bottle, sleep time, medication etc.

Responsibilities of parents

To inform the Service of their preferred way to receive information from the Service, and to provide any information about their child and family that supports educators meeting the child’s educational and care needs.

To raise their concerns in a timely manner and to work with the Service to overcome them.
To contribute information and ideas to the Service’s Quality Improvement Plan whenever possible.

To complete surveys and questionnaires wherever possible.

Links to other policies

Sources

Early Years Learning Framework 2022.
Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011.
Guide to the National Quality Standard 2018.

Policy review

The Service encourages staff and parents to be actively involved in the annual review of each of its policies and procedures. In addition, the Service will accommodate any new legislative changes as they occur, and any issues identified as part the Service’s commitment to quality improvement. The Service consults with relevant recognised authorities as part of the annual review to ensure the policy contents are consistent with current research and contemporary views on best practice.

Revised November 2023

May be reproduced and adapted with permission but the author must be acknowledged.