Phoenix Preschool, Carries Hall, Rush Green Road, Romford, Essex

How parents take part in the pre-school
As a member of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, Phoenix Pre-School recognises parents as the first and most important educators of their children. The staff members see themselves as co-workers with you in providing care and education for your child. There are many ways in which parents take part in making the pre-school a welcoming and stimulating place for children and parents, such as:

exchanging knowledge about their children's needs, activities, interests and progress with the staff

helping at sessions of the pre-school

sharing their own special interests with the children

helping to provide, make and look after the equipment and materials used in the children's play activities

taking part in events and informal discussions about the activities and curriculum provided by the pre-school

joining in community activities in which the pre-school takes part

building friendships with other parents in the pre-school

The parents' rota
The setting has a dated rota, which parents can sign if they would like to help at a particular session or sessions of the setting. Helping at the session enables parents to see what the day-to-day life of the setting is like and to join in helping the children to get the best out of their activities.

Joining in
Joining the rota is not the only means of taking part in the life of the setting. Parents can offer to take part in a session by sharing their own interests and skills with the children. Parents can visit the setting to play the clarinet for the children, show pictures of the celebrations held in their culture, and show the children their collection of shells etc.
We welcome parents to drop into the setting to see it at work or to speak with the staff.

Records and observations
The setting keeps a record of achievement for each child. Staff and parents working together on their children's records is one of the ways in which the key person and parents work in partnership. Your child's record helps us to celebrate together her/his achievements and to work together to provide what your child needs for her/his well-being and to make progress.
Your child's key person will work with you to keep this record. To do this you and she/he will collect information about your child's needs, activities, interests and achievements. This information will enable the key person to identify your child's stage of progress. You and the key person will then decide on how to help your child to move on to the next stage

Key workers and your child
Our setting has a key person system. This means that each member of staff has a group of children and their families for whom she/he is particularly responsible. Your child's key person will be the person who works with you to make sure that what we provide is right for your child's particular needs and interests. When your child first starts at the setting, she/he will help your child to settle and throughout your child's time at the setting, she/he will help your child to benefit from the setting's activities.