1. Unit 5: Working with Parents and Others in Early Years
Teacher notes (PS 1):
It is imperative that early years workers learn to work with parents, colleagues and other professionals, which is why a whole unit has been dedicated to this subject. By the time learners have completed Unit 5, they should have a good understanding of the importance of collaborative working and the positive effect it can have on outcomes for children.
In this unit, they will learn about the role of parents in children’s lives and factors that affect parenting styles. They will also learn about parents’ rights and different views about childhood. This is important as they will need to appreciate that there are different ways of raising children. They will also learn about the role of other professionals in children’s lives. In this unit they will explore ways of working with parents, colleagues and other professionals and how to communicate effectively to develop positive working relationships with them.

2. Unit Learning Aims
A1 Understand the impact of parental rights, views and experiences on partnership work with parents and/or carers in early years settings
A2 Understand how to work cooperatively with parents and/or carers
B Understand how to work cooperatively with colleagues and other professionals in early years settings
C Be able to work with parents and/or carers and others in early years settings to meet the needs of children
Teacher notes (PS 2):
Learning aim A1 will help learners to understand the rights and responsibilities that parents/carers have, as well as the effect that parents/carers can have on children’s well-being and learning. Learners will find out about key pieces of research, including the EPPE project. Different styles of parenting will be discussed, and they will learn about a range of factors that influence parenting approaches. Finally, learners will explore the challenges that some parents/carers experience in their own lives that can make them emotionally unavailable to their children.
Learning aim A2 goes on to look at the importance of building professional relationships with parents/carers and of respecting their choices and behaviours. Effective communication is key; learners will learn useful skills to help them build and maintain these all-important relationships with parents/carers. They will also learn about possible barriers that some parents/carers or families face that affect their ability to participate in the activities of the setting. Another key aspect in this learning aim is the importance of handling information in confidence, and understanding when there is a need to obtain parental consent. They will also learn about how and when it is appropriate to provide advice to families.
Learning aim B covers the role of other professionals in families’ lives, including social workers, police workers, health visitors, speech and language therapists, dieticians, educational psychologists, child psychiatrists and counsellors. It also explores the benefits to the child and family of working collaboratively. There have been many recent high-profile cases where things went wrong and the relevant legislation and outcomes of key inquiries will be covered in detail. This learning aim covers working with colleagues in the learner’s own setting but also across other settings and teams and learners will come away with a clear understanding of best practice, as well as the knowledge of how and when to pass on any concerns about a child in their care.
Learning aim C needs learners to draw on their learning from LA A1, LA.A2 and LA.B and demonstrate how they can apply their knowledge to be able to work effectively with parents and/or carers, colleagues and other professionals.
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3. Objectives By the end of the lesson you should be able to:
Identify and define some of the key terms needed for the unit.
State what Parental Responsibility is and list who has it.
Explain with examples parental rights and responsibilities.
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4. Key Terms Statutory Required by law Rights
A moral or legal entitlement to have or do something
Responsibilities
The state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or someone
Welfare
The holistic needs of an individual
Paramount
Most important
The welfare of the child is paramount
The Child’s health, safety and well-being is the most important thing.
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5. What is a parent? What gives them legal rights?
Key Terms
What is a parent? What gives them legal rights?
The term ‘Parental Responsibility’ has legal status.
PR is given automatically to:
Child’s birth mother
Child’s father if married to mother
Child’s father if named on the birth certificate
Otherwise to get PR legal steps are needed.
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6. Legal Steps How can the father acquire parental responsibility?
Fathers can acquire PR if:
A PR Agreement is made with the mother
He obtains a PR Order from the course
He obtains a Child Arrangement Order (used to be called Residence Order) from the court
Becomes the child’s guardian
What about Step Parents?
PR agreement made with those who have PR
PR Order given by court when Step Parent marries child’s mother
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7. Can anyone else acquire parental responsibility?
Legal Steps
Can anyone else acquire parental responsibility?
The Local Authority if the child is taken into care.
Other family members and foster carers through court.
Adoption: all PR goes to adoptive parents
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8. Parental Responsibility
Why is important to know who has Parental Responsibility?
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9. Activity
In groups, discuss these statements. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
Parents should have the right to take children out of school for holidays.
Doctors can override parental rights to refuse treatment where it is in the best interest of the child.
Parents can have the children baptised into a religion when they are a baby.
Parents can have their children’s ears pierced
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10. Are Rights and Responsibilities the same thing?
Parents have a responsibility to look after their child, eg ………… And have a right to make decisions for and about their child eg…. (Complete Task 1 on your Activity Sheet)
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11. Homework
Using your notes, worksheet and other sources: Type a side of A4 that explains the concept of parental responsibility. Ensure that you include the definitions and use key terms. Also, complete task 2 of the worksheet: What laws (legislation – often called ‘Acts’) are relevant to the rights and responsibilities of parents? Make a list and write a short piece about each one you find. The Gov.uk website might be helpful.
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