Routledge Partnership with Parents in Early Childhood Settings: Insights from Five European Countries

Product Description Partnership with Parents in Early Childhood Settings examines how practitioners can work effectively with parents and families, acknowledging the complex nature of these relationships. Drawing on policy, research and practice from kindergartens and early years settings in five European countries, it provides insight into how political, social and cultural contexts affect the relationships between educators and families and the impact this has on children’s early experiences. The book is based upon learning from an Erasmus mobility project between educators from five countries in OMEP (the World Organisation for Early Childhood Education). It presents examples from practice and research from the different countries and highlights some positive and practical ways in which professionals can work with parents, as well as potential barriers to parental partnership and how these might be overcome. Each section focuses on a different country and allows for a detailed exploration into how relationships are developed and sustained for the benefit of young children and their families in different places. Throughout, the reader is encouraged to reflect on their current understanding of parental partnership and how they can plan for positive parental partnership working in the future. This thought-provoking text will be an indispensable resource for students of early childhood and teachers and practitioners, as well as academics and those with an interest in early years social and educational policy. About the Author Liz Hryniewicz is Head of Undergraduate Programmes in the Faculty of Education at Canterbury Christ Church University. Previous roles include Programme Director of the MA in Early Years and Project Director of New Leaders in Early Years. She is an executive committee member of OMEP UK. Her research interests include the development of teacher educators’ research profiles, professional identity and phenomenological enquiry. Paulette Luff is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Education and Social Care at Anglia Ruskin University. She is Course Leader for the MA in Early Childhood Education and convener of the Early Childhood Research Group. Paulette has worked in the field of early childhood throughout her career as a teacher and researcher. She is currently President of OMEP UK.