EYFS - Celebrating and supporting children’s learning at home – Delivered by Jo O’Raw

This session will help practitioners move from a knowledge delivery model, telling families what to do, toward a relational model: one that builds on and celebrates what families are already doing, offers practical ideas in accessible ways, and holds complexity without assumptions. 

The CREC HAWWC Boys Project found that many families had never received affirmation of their parenting skills and were unaware of the richness of what they were already offering their children. Recognising and naming what families do well is itself a powerful act of engagement. 

The day is structured in four connected parts, moving from understanding to practice. Practitioners will share a wide variety of inputs including discussions, time to reflect, watching video clips, discussing the needs of families they support and exploring the range of resources available and how to use them. 

Each participant will leave the day with access to a bespoke Google site designed for participants including: 

• key messages from the research on the home learning environment including the original sources
• accessible conversation prompts for families (bath time, car journeys, mealtimes, bedtime, at the beach, at the park and more)
• a ‘Talking Points with Families’ guide — how to introduce home learning environment conversations with warmth and without judgement, across the full range of family circumstances
• signposting to local and national resources (libraries, children’s centres, Stay and Play, beach and park locations, and digital support)
• video clips to share with the team and families
• useful resources to share the next day with families
• a personal action planning tool

By the end of this course you will be able to: 

• understand what the home learning environment really means, and why it matters, drawing on accessible, practitioner friendly research
• have explored the real contexts faced by families in their area, developing empathy and asset-based thinking. 
• be equipped with a range of practical, low-cost ideas to share with parents and carers to support learning through everyday moments
• have practised conversational strategies which build relationships with families - including how to handle common barriers
• leave with a personalised action plan including something they will try or share within the week