Effective partnership working can be new or build upon existing relationships. Information and communication are key to success.
St John's Children's Club has been operating within the grounds of St John the Baptist C of E Voluntary Controlled Primary School in Stockton-on-Tees since 1996. As a private daycare provider, St Johns is registered for 30 children aged from two to 'rising five'.
When the 15-hour pilot was introduced in 2009, the school and the children's club worked together to create a package to build on the club's existing wraparound childcare.
Their aim was to enable parents to access the 15 hours across the two settings. Sharing the delivery of the entitlement has required careful planning, with ongoing reviews.
A model was created in which 12.5 hours were accessed at the school nursery class while the remaining 2.5 hours (and any additional paid-for hours) were provided by the children's club. Information about children is shared by everyone, so parents must sign an information sharing protocol.
The partnership has introduced some simple things that support better communication. The children's club manager and nursery class teacher meet with parents to explain how the partnership works, how a place can be accessed, and how they will communicate with each other and with parents.
There are other routines too. For example, lunch slips for children who come for morning sessions and/or lunch at the children's club who then go to the afternoon nursery class session accompany the child to school and ensure that staff and parents are aware of what the child has eaten. This is essential because within the partnership arrangements, children's transitions are often undertaken by the two different settings.
The school is particularly pleased that they are able to offer parents their 15 hours and additional hours if they need it, through this partnership. The additional hours have also had a positive impact on the sustainability of the children's club.
FURTHER INFORMATION
James Hempsall is director of training and research providers Hempsall's (www.hempsallconsultancies.com)