Involving Parents In Developmental Records

[sparky]

I wonder if anyone can help?

We are trying to devise a booklet that parents will fill out with their child to help them get more involved with what their children know/can do.

Has anyone got such a document that would be willing to share?

Fingers crossed

we used to do one of these but found that the paretns often said a child could do something, eg putting on shoes, that they really struggled with.
once we even had a parent do all the drawings etc for the child. it was useful, but we now visit with the paretns before they start to get a better idea.

[Ruthierhyme]

We had the same experience as Cybertwin although didn't do the home visits, we'd try to find out things at the pre arranged beginner sessions, it was great to involve parents who were keen though so we'd jump straight in and ask them about joining the 'helpers rota (after their child had settled) & the fundraisers committee

If it were my time over again I'd send out a 'we did this together' sort of document .. 'who bought my last pair of shoes & who choose them'.. 'Collect and name/glue/draw around/ three leaves, where were they picked up from', 'what colour is my toothbrush, when do I use it', what does everyone like to have for breakfast ?

Less what the child can & can't do & more about preferences and what they enjoy doing as a family..

Have you asked your current parents about what they'd of wanted to recieve before starting ?

[sparky]

Originally Posted by cybertwin

we used to do one of these but found that the paretns often said a child could do something, eg putting on shoes, that they really struggled with.
once we even had a parent do all the drawings etc for the child. it was useful, but we now visit with the paretns before they start to get a better idea.

We are worried this might happen but Ofsted have requested that we involve parents more in their developmental records.

Our Committee won't fund us to do home visits but we are hoping that when we start the "twos" sessions in September this will help.

[sparky]

Originally Posted by Ruthierhyme

We had the same experience as Cybertwin although didn't do the home visits, we'd try to find out things at the pre arranged beginner sessions, it was great to involve parents who were keen though so we'd jump straight in and ask them about joining the 'helpers rota (after their child had settled) & the fundraisers committee

If it were my time over again I'd send out a 'we did this together' sort of document .. 'who bought my last pair of shoes & who choose them'.. 'Collect and name/glue/draw around/ three leaves, where were they picked up from', 'what colour is my toothbrush, when do I use it', what does everyone like to have for breakfast ?

Less what the child can & can't do & more about preferences and what they enjoy doing as a family..

Have you asked your current parents about what they'd of wanted to recieve before starting ?

No we haven't asked the parents - good idea

At the moment we have a keyworker system which makes statements connected to stepping stones and we make a comment on what they have achieved.

We then fill in targets for the next term and how we are going to give the children the opportunity to meet them.

We then have a page divided into the 6 areas of learning where we write what they have achieved that term. Most of the time, though, you end up repeating what you have already put in - we just want to make it simpler!!!