Continuing professional development - Working with parents

'We know parents are a child's first and most enduring educator, but we need to grasp how we can support their contribution to their child's learning,' she says. 'We feel that we already work very well with parents, but it's a case of asking, what more can we do?'

PEAL workshop

Ms Mackenzie attended a workshop run by Parents, Early Years and Learning (PEAL). Funded by the workforce development strand of the DCSF Early Years Early Learning Partnership Programme, this training initiative is managed jointly by the NCB and Parenting UK. The NDNA is currently delivering one-day workshops for PEAL to full-day care practitioners.

Ms Mackenzie believes the workshop was well worth attending. 'We were in quite a large group which included a very diverse range of practitioners.

'We were encouraged to share information about our current practice. For example, we were interested in the idea of children's learning journals that travel between the home and the nursery, which also encourage parents to contribute photographs and make their own observations.'

NDNA one-day course

Ms Mackenzie also attended a one-day course which the NDNA has designed itself, entitled Working in Partnership with Parents.

'This involved a smaller group of participants, so the discussion was really focused,' she says. 'It had a strong practical dimension and covered a variety of areas, including best practice in sharing information and understanding the importance of communication styles.

'Both courses have given me lots of ideas to take back to my setting.'

Further Information www.ndna.org.uk;

www.teachernet.gov.uk/workingwithparents; www.parentscentre.gov.uk.