This guide has been written to support good practice for all those working with parents of very young children, to involve them in early learning, as well as those involved in planning early years services.
It is about supporting parents, fathers as well as mothers, to provide the kind of relationships and experiences at home that very young children need in order to flourish – while enjoying family life and time together.
Early home learning is everything that children from birth to age five do or experience with their parents that positively influences their learning, development and later achievement – from security and warm, loving attention, to playing, talking, singing and looking at books together.
The evidence is overwhelming. Parental involvement in early learning as part of daily family life at home has a greater impact on children's wellbeing and achievement than any other factor, such as poverty, parental education or school environment. Supporting parents to provide a positive home learning environment is therefore a vital part of improving outcomes for children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
This book is will help you:
- understand why working in partnership with parents is so vital in improving children's achievement and wellbeing
- think through the key issues in developing effective services
- make decisions about who you are trying to reach
- reflect on your current practice
- reach and engage diverse and vulnerable families
- ensure you have a properly trained and supervised workforce to deliver the work
- measure and demonstrate the impact of your work on outcomes for children.
Published September 2009
See also our Early Home Learning Matters web pages.
