CACHE Level 2 Intro to Early Years Education © Hodder & Stoughton Limited CACHE LEVEL 2 INTRODUCTION TO EARLY YEARS EDUCATION AND CARE Unit 5 Understand how to work in partnership

CACHE Level 2 Intro to Early Years Education © Hodder & Stoughton Limited Learning Outcomes LO3 Understand challenges to partnership working. AC 3.1 Identify barriers to partnership working. AC 3.2 Explain ways to overcome barriers when working in partnership. AC 3.3 Give examples of support which may be offered to parents/carers.

CACHE Level 2 Intro to Early Years Education © Hodder & Stoughton Limited Starter activity 3. Understand challenges to partnership working (3.1, 3.2) Time: 15 mins What would make it difficult for you to work with others? Consider: Personality Age Differing views and opinions Loud people Someone who does a job or task slower than you would. Discuss with a partner how this may affect partnership working and how you might overcome this.

CACHE Level 2 Intro to Early Years Education © Hodder & Stoughton Limited There are a variety of factors that could cause barriers to partnership working. It is important to identify these barriers so that everyone can work together to overcome them. 3. Understand challenges to partnership working (3.1, 3.2) Barriers to partnership working

CACHE Level 2 Intro to Early Years Education © Hodder & Stoughton Limited 3. Understand how to work in partnership (3.1) Possible barriers Lack of timeCommunication Information sharing Understanding roles Lack of knowledge Confusing information

CACHE Level 2 Intro to Early Years Education © Hodder & Stoughton Limited 3. Understand how to work in partnership (3.1, 3.2) Time may be a barrier to partnership working as everyone needs to find a convenient time to get together. There needs to be time for everyone to be able to discuss any issues or concerns that may come up during meetings. If a meeting is planned for 2pm on a Monday and not everyone can attend, then it is important that the next meeting is held on a different day and at a different time to give everyone a chance to attend. Barriers to partnership working

CACHE Level 2 Intro to Early Years Education © Hodder & Stoughton Limited Pairs activity Time: 15 mins Describe when and why your setting holds meetings and identify whether this supports partnership working. Consider: Regular meetings for planning and discussing individual children Meetings with parents/carers Meetings during the day Meetings when the setting is closed. 3. Understand how to work in partnership (3.1, 3.2)

CACHE Level 2 Intro to Early Years Education © Hodder & Stoughton Limited It is very important that everyone understands the roles and responsibilities of everyone in the team. Simple introductions will help everyone to understand each other’s roles where necessary. Sharing information is vital to make sure that everyone has all the facts and can work in partnership to meet the individual needs of the child. The team needs to discuss the best method of sharing information to make sure everyone is kept informed. 3. Understand how to work in partnership (3.1, 3.2) Overcoming barriers to partnership working

CACHE Level 2 Intro to Early Years Education © Hodder & Stoughton Limited Group activity Time: 20 mins You are going to be given a scenario to discuss. One member of the group will take notes and at the end of the ‘meeting’, the note-taker will read back what they have heard and written down. The group will then discuss how effective the ‘meeting’ was and will decide whether all of the information written down was accurate. You will need: One note-taker who cannot speak during the meeting One nursery manager One key worker Practitioners from the setting One other professional Parents/carers. 3. Understand how to work in partnership (3.1, 3.2)

CACHE Level 2 Intro to Early Years Education © Hodder & Stoughton Limited Group activity (Continued) The note-taker should not see the following notes. Scenario: The team are meeting to discuss how to support a child who is constantly displaying unwanted behaviour in the setting. The nursery staff will describe what they see on a day-to-day basis. The parent/carer will describe the child’s behaviour at home. The professional will describe ways of dealing with this child’s behaviour. 3. Understand how to work in partnership (3.1, 3.2)

CACHE Level 2 Intro to Early Years Education © Hodder & Stoughton Limited Group activity (Continued) Note-taker only Take as many notes as you can so that you can retell what was discussed in the meeting. Your notes will not be shared. Consider: Does everyone introduce themselves? Does everyone take time to listen to others? Does everyone value the views and opinions of others? Did you understand the purpose of the meeting? 3. Understand how to work in partnership (3.1, 3.2)

CACHE Level 2 Intro to Early Years Education © Hodder & Stoughton Limited Working in partnership can be overwhelming, particularly for parents/carers. Professionals may use words that the rest of the team are not familiar with. Parents/carers may feel that they are being spoken about rather than spoken to. It is important that everyone involved feels comfortable and confident to ask questions, and to ask for anything to be explained if they are unsure. 3. Understand how to work in partnership (3.1, 3.2) Overcoming barriers to partnership working

CACHE Level 2 Intro to Early Years Education © Hodder & Stoughton Limited Classroom discussion activity Time: 20 mins Why is it important to overcome barriers to partnership working? Think back to your group activity scenario and describe how effective that was. Consider: Supporting the needs of the child Teamwork Sharing information Feeling included and valued What might happen if partnership working is not effective? 3. Understand how to work in partnership (3.1, 3.2)

CACHE Level 2 Intro to Early Years Education © Hodder & Stoughton Limited Parents/carers may ask the setting for advice or guidance with a particular issue. If it is a day-to-day issue, then the practitioners may be able to support the parent/carer. For example: They may be worried that their child is lonely at the setting, and so the practitioners can observe the child and reassure the parent/carer. They may be concerned about their child’s development, and so the practitioners can set up a meeting with them to show them how their child is doing. It is important that practitioners support parents/carers so that they can help with any minor concerns. 3. Understand how to work in partnership (3.3) Support for parents/carers

CACHE Level 2 Intro to Early Years Education © Hodder & Stoughton Limited If a parent/carer has a more complex issue, then practitioners may need to refer them on to other professionals, for example: A speech and language therapist will support any communication, eating or swallowing concerns A social worker can support a family who are experiencing difficulties An interpreter can support a parent/carer who cannot communicate with the setting or other professionals. It is important to know the range of support available for parents/carers and for practitioners to refer them on where necessary. 3. Understand how to work in partnership (3.3) Support for parents/carers

CACHE Level 2 Intro to Early Years Education © Hodder & Stoughton Limited Reflection activity Time: 15 mins List all the support you know of that is available for parents/carers, both within your setting and from other professionals. Consider: Supporting daily issues Dealing with problems within the setting Seeking advice from other professionals. 3. Understand how to work in partnership (3.3)

CACHE Level 2 Intro to Early Years Education © Hodder & Stoughton Limited Independent research activity Time: 15 mins Research the support offered from one professional or service from outside the setting, for example: Support with behavioural issues Support with communication Support for issues with development Support for housing or financial issues Include your source and at least three key facts about the professional or service. 3. Understand how to work in partnership (3.3)

CACHE Level 2 Intro to Early Years Education © Hodder & Stoughton Limited Extension activity Time: 15 mins The setting has decided to invite a specialist in to talk to parents/carers about affordable healthy eating. You have been asked to create a poster to advertise this event. Consider: The time and location of the event How to make the event appealing to everyone The benefits of attending the event How parents/carers can get further advice and support on this subject. 3. Understand how to work in partnership (3.1, 3.2, 3.3)

CACHE Level 2 Intro to Early Years Education © Hodder & Stoughton Limited Summary Practitioners need to be aware of any potential barriers to working in partnership with others. If a barrier develops then everyone must work together to overcome it. Practitioners can offer parents/carers support and can refer them on to other professionals if necessary.

CACHE Level 2 Intro to Early Years Education © Hodder & Stoughton Limited 1.Describe three possible barriers to partnership working. 2.For two of those barriers, explain how they could be overcome. 3.Name three ways a practitioner can support a parent/carer. Plenary