EYPS Support: High-quality provision; Recognising the contribution of families
Joanne Ryan is the head of assessment for the Early Years Professional Status programme at Edge Hill University. She gained EYPS herself through the Validation pilot scheme in 2006. Here she describes how one student met Standard 24: Be accountable for the delivery of high quality provision and Standard 29: Recognise and respect the influential and enduring contribution that families and parents can make to children's development, well-being and learning.
Julie Thornton is the registered owner of Eagley School House Nursery in Bolton. Julie supports the whole staff team and manager as well as working with all the different age ranges of children as a key person.
To evidence Standard 24 Julie offered training on the Key Person to the staff team. She asked the staff to consider what the setting would be like for a child accessing it and how the relationship with the key person may affect the children. This was reflected in the Ofsted report, where the setting achieved Good overall, with the section 'helping children to make a positive contribution' achieving outstanding.
Julie audits each area of the provision in consultation with the staff on an annual basis. She takes responsibility for making sure changes are implemented. She has just developed a multisensory outdoor area.
To evidence Standard 29, Julie has set up a reception area in the building where parents and children can take books and games home to share. The reception also has lots of information for parents, including the EYFS document which parents can take home. Julie has also created books of events such as trips out to show to parents.
In every room and the reception, Julie has supported the staff to display notice boards on the EYFS, with sticky notes on the bottom so parents can write comments about their children's experiences. This encourages a three-way relationship between the parent, child and practitioners, and helps parents to recognise their contribution was important.
Since gaining EYPS, Julie has progressed to mentoring other EYP students through the pathways, offering advice, support and practical tips.
