Top tips: Maintaining effective communication with parents
Strong communication between nurseries and parents is essential for supporting children’s well-being, development and sense of security. When families feel informed, listened to and valued, it builds trust and creates a consistent approach between home and nursery. Clear communication helps practitioners share important information, celebrate achievements and work together to support each child’s individual needs.
Top tips for supporting new staff
- Build warm daily connections
Greet parents personally at drop-off and collection times, sharing brief but meaningful updates about their child’s day
- Use a variety of communication methods
Combine face-to-face conversations with apps, emails, newsletters and notice boards to ensure information is accessible to all parents
- Be inclusive and accessible
Consider language needs, cultural differences and varying work schedules when communicating
- Share the positives
Celebrate achievements, milestones and happy moments – not just concerns
- Keep information clear and timely
Provide advance notice of events, policy updates and changes to routines
- Listen and value parent voice
Welcome updates from home and acknowledge parents as experts on their child
- Ensure staff understand the value of strong parent partnerships
Support your team to recognise the importance of positive relationships with families and equip them with the confidence and skills to communicate with parents clearly, warmly and professionally
- Maintain confidentiality and professionalism
Discuss sensitive matters privately
- Create meaningful opportunities for partnership
Provide regular meetings, stay-and-play sessions and workshops to build strong, collaborative relationships with families
- Agree setting-wide expectations for daily communications
Use a staff meeting to discuss what different staff do which they have found to be successful and have received positive feedback from parents. Pool the ideas and create a setting-wide agreement for the number, type, length, tone, etc. of daily communications, whether in person or online.
NDNA products to support you with this tip
Positive Relationships with Parents – England factsheet
Disclaimer: Activities with children must always be risk assessed, including for allergies or choking. Children must always have adequate supervision. Resources and materials must always be appropriate for children’s age and stage of development.
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