Learning for everyone Partnership Working in Early Years

Learning for everyone… Partnership Working in Early Years Level 4 Diploma in Advanced Childcare Practice & Management Unit 7: Working in Partnership

Learning for everyone… How to work in partnership • Early years practitioners will work with many different professionals. • When working in partnership with other professionals, everyone has an important part to play, but it is crucial that everyone involved understands the roles and responsibilities of all the members of the team. • Working in partnership with others will make sure that practitioners can share and gain knowledge and information.

Learning for everyone… Partners Parents/car ers Speech & language therapist After school care Key worker Work in partnersh ip with. . Childminde r Physio Social worker Health visitor

Learning for everyone… Role of Others • Health professionals may be involved in partnership working, and they will work with parents/carers to explain how they are working with their child. For example: • Speech and language therapist – may be working with a child to improve their communications skills • Physiotherapist – a child who has difficulty walking may need regular visits to work on exercises to strengthen their muscles • Dietician – may work with a child and their family if the child is unable to eat certain foods. • Early years practitioners will need to work in partnership to continue to meet the individual needs of the child.

Learning for everyone… Role of Others • Social services may be involved with a child and their family, and this could be for a variety of reasons, for example: • A family may have a specific problem and another professional has referred them for support • If a family member is disabled, then social services can provide help and support • If there is a concern that a child might be at risk of harm • If a child is taken in to short- or long-term care. • Early years practitioners will work closely in partnership with everyone involved to support continuity of care.

Learning for everyone… Role of Others • Early years practitioners will work closely with everyone involved in the child’s day-to-day care, for example: • Meeting and greeting parents/carers at the beginning and at the end of the day, as this will make sure important information is shared • Involving others who may collect a child, i. e. childminders and grandparents • Working closely with other colleagues when the child is going to change rooms in the setting, or when they move on to school. • Working in partnership in these situations will make sure that children feel settled and that important information is always passed on.

Learning for everyone… Benefits of working in partnership • Parents/carers are a child's first educator. • Parents/carers’ wishes, views and opinions must be listened to and respected. • Working in partnership with parents/carers will benefit everyone involved with the child’s care and education.

Learning for everyone… Benefits of working in partnership • Working in partnership with parents/carers will benefit the child, the family and the setting. • It will make sure that the child’s individual needs are fully met, as they will have been discussed with the parent/carer. • The family will feel involved and respected. • The team will be able to work effectively to meet the holistic needs of the child.

Learning for everyone… Summary • Practitioners will work with a range of other professionals. • The individual needs of all children will be met through partnership working. • Partnership working will help to keep children safe. • Parents/carers are key partners when working in partnership.