Working in partnership with parents and carers is central to our work at Thomas Coram Centre and Nursery School. Research shows that involving parents and carers in their children’s learning is the most important factor in enabling children to do well. Parents are children’s first and most enduring educators.

Parents are encouraged to be actively involved in their child’s learning at nursery. We run termly workshops about various aspects of learning and development in the ‘Parents’ Room’ so that parents can learn what we do to support their child. Parents and carers are also encouraged to get involved in annual cultural events such as ‘Black History Month’ or our community day, a fun-filled, fundraising jamboree which concludes the summer term.

Parents are also encouraged to speak to their child’s ‘key person’ as much as possible. Each ‘key person’ has a central role in not only igniting a child’s enthusiasm for learning but also in helping each child to both thrive individually and form respectful relationships with others. Brief, informal parental feedback is available at pick-up. Once a term, parents are invited to discuss progress with their child’s ‘key person’ with reference to their child’s profile book. A written report is completed at end-of-stage and end-of-school transition.

Where there are concerns about a child, we work closely with parents and carers and, if necessary, outside agencies to give the children in our care the best support possible.