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Parent Partnership and Engagement Policy
ME Montessori Nursery and Pre-School
Bedgrove Community Centre, Bedgrove Park, Ambleside, Aylesbury, HP21 9TT
| Version | 1.0 |
| Date | May 2026 |
| Review Date | May 2027 |
| Policy Owner | Francesco Antonazzo FCIPD |
| Statutory Reference | EYFS Statutory Framework (September 2025 revision), paragraphs 2.1, 3.1, 3.4; Special Educational Needs and Disability Code of Practice 2015 |
1. Our Philosophy of Partnership
At ME Montessori, we believe that parents and carers are the first and most important educators in a child’s life. Our role is to work alongside families — not in place of them. The relationship between home and nursery is one of mutual respect, open communication, and shared purpose: the wellbeing and flourishing of every child.
The EYFS Statutory Framework (September 2025 revision) is clear that providers must work in partnership with parents and carers, and must support them to understand and extend their child’s learning at home. We embrace this as a core value, not a compliance requirement.
2. Getting to Know Your Family
2.1 Partnership begins before the child’s first day. At the enrolment stage, the key worker meets the family for an initial “All About Me” conversation. This helps us learn:
– The child’s likes, dislikes, interests, and comforters
– Family structure, home language, and cultural background
– Any health needs, dietary requirements, or routines important to the child
– The family’s hopes and aspirations for their child’s time at the nursery
2.2 The information shared in this conversation is treated with sensitivity and used only to support the child’s care and learning.
2.3 We recognise that every family is different. We never make assumptions about family structure, background, language, or culture, and we adapt our communication to suit the family’s needs.
3. Communication Channels
3.1 ME Montessori uses multiple channels to maintain regular, meaningful communication with families:
Daily face-to-face contact: At drop-off and collection, key workers aim to share a brief, personal update about the child’s day. We recognise that families are often busy, so we make these moments count.
Nursery communication app: Tapestry. Parents receive updates, observations, and messages from the key worker through this platform. Notifications are sent within 48 hours of an observation being completed.
Phone and email: For matters requiring a longer conversation or formal communication. All calls and emails are responded to within two working days.
Newsletters: The nursery sends a monthly newsletter to all families, covering upcoming events, curriculum themes, seasonal activities, and nursery news.
Parent Evenings and Key Person Review Meetings: Held every two months. These are dedicated one-to-one conversations between the key worker, parent/carer, and where appropriate the SENCO or Manager. They are an opportunity to discuss the child’s progress, celebrate achievements, and plan ahead.
Notice board: Physical information is displayed in the nursery entrance, covering upcoming dates, menus, and key messages.
3.2 Parents who do not use digital platforms may request all communication in printed form. We do not make digital access a barrier to participation.
3.3 Where a family’s primary language is not English, we will use available resources — including translation support, pictorial communication, and where possible, bilingual staff — to ensure communication is accessible.
4. How Parents Can Raise Concerns
4.1 We want parents to feel comfortable raising any concern, however small. Early conversation prevents small worries from becoming bigger ones.
4.2 The first point of contact for day-to-day concerns is always the child’s key worker.
4.3 For more significant concerns, or if a parent does not feel their concern has been heard, they should speak to the Room Leader or the Manager.
4.4 A formal complaints process is available if a concern cannot be resolved informally. The nursery’s Complaints Procedure is available from the office and in full in the Parent Handbook.
4.5 Parents are always welcome to request a meeting. Meetings are arranged at a mutually convenient time, including outside of standard session hours where possible.
4.6 We treat every concern seriously and confidentially. Parents will never be made to feel unwelcome for raising a concern. If a parent ever feels they are not being heard, they may raise the matter with Francesco Antonazzo directly.
5. Involvement in Your Child’s Learning Journey
5.1 The Learning Journey is a shared document. Parents are not passive recipients of reports — they are active contributors.
5.2 Parents are actively encouraged to:
– Add their own observations, photographs, and “wow moments” from home via the nursery app
– Share information about a child’s home interests, new skills, or experiences that we can build on in the nursery
– Comment on and celebrate observations shared by the key worker
5.3 Contributions from home enrich the child’s Learning Journey and deepen our understanding of the child across all settings. They also give the child a powerful message: the adults in their life are connected and interested in them.
5.4 Parents are always given a copy of their child’s Learning Journey at the end of their time with us.
6. Sharing Developmental Milestones
6.1 When a child achieves something significant — a first step, a new word, a moment of connection — we share it with parents promptly, with warmth. These moments belong to the family, and we celebrate them together.
6.2 Key developmental progress updates are shared at Key Person Review Meetings and through the digital platform.
6.3 If a child’s progress gives us cause for concern, the key worker or SENCO will speak with the parent privately, sensitively, and promptly. We will never share developmental concerns in passing at the door or in front of other parents.
7. SEND Partnership with Parents
7.1 When a child is identified as having or potentially having Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), the family is at the centre of all decisions and planning.
7.2 The nursery’s SENCO is:
Kellie Antonazzo, Headmistress — [email protected]
7.3 Parents of children with SEND are involved in:
– Identifying and reviewing individual learning targets (SMART targets or equivalent)
– Contributing to SEND Support Plans and, where relevant, Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)
– Any referrals to external agencies or specialist services
– Termly or more frequent review meetings to discuss progress and next steps
7.4 Parents are always given the opportunity to contribute their views in writing, in person, or in any other format that works for them.
7.5 We work collaboratively with the Local Authority, health professionals, and specialist services, always with parental knowledge and, where required, consent.
7.6 The SEND Code of Practice 2015 is clear that parents must be involved in SEND decision-making. We go beyond compliance — we actively seek the parent’s perspective as the most expert voice on their child.
8. Diversity, Cultural Respect, and Inclusion
8.1 ME Montessori warmly welcomes families from all cultural, religious, linguistic, and social backgrounds. We actively celebrate diversity as a strength of our community.
8.2 We reflect families’ cultural backgrounds in:
– The books, resources, and music available in the nursery
– The food offered (dietary requirements and cultural preferences are accommodated)
– Celebrations and events
– The images and representation present throughout the nursery environment
8.3 We recognise that childcare practices, expectations, and approaches to development can vary across cultures. We approach any difference with curiosity and respect, not judgment.
8.4 We are committed to ensuring that no family experiences discrimination on the grounds of race, religion, belief, nationality, disability, family structure, or any other protected characteristic. Any concern about discrimination should be raised with the Manager or, if the complaint involves the Manager, with Francesco Antonazzo.
9. Parent Input into Nursery Life
9.1 ME Montessori values the perspectives of families in shaping the nursery’s approach, provision, and environment.
9.2 Parents are invited to participate in nursery life through:
– Parent Voice surveys: sent every two months. Responses are reviewed by the Manager and key findings are acted upon and fed back to families.
– Parent events: one event each term, including Open Days and Stay-and-Play sessions. These allow families to experience the Montessori environment and learn more about how their child spends their time.
– Volunteering: Parents with relevant skills or experiences are welcome to contribute to nursery life with the Manager’s agreement. All volunteers must read the Visitors Policy and this policy and sign the relevant declaration.
– Feedback conversations: Parents are invited to share their views informally at any time. We treat all feedback — positive and constructive — as valuable.
9.3 Parents are informed of the outcomes of Parent Voice surveys within one term of the survey closing. Where a concern or suggestion is raised by multiple families, this is prioritised for review.
10. Confidentiality
10.1 Information shared by parents with the nursery is treated with the highest level of confidentiality. It is used only to support the child’s care and education.
10.2 Information about one family is never shared with another family.
10.3 Parents are asked to maintain the confidentiality of information they receive about other children or families through involvement in nursery events or activities.
10.4 For full details of how personal data is handled, see the GDPR Privacy Notice for Parents.
11. Transitions
11.1 Key transitions — from home to nursery, between rooms, and from nursery to school — are managed in close partnership with families.
11.2 Parents receive advance notice of any room transition and are involved in planning the move. A transition meeting between the parent, outgoing key worker, and new key worker is offered.
11.3 When a child is preparing to start school, the nursery supports the family with information, reassurance, and a warm transition summary shared with the receiving school (with parental consent).
12. Review
This policy is reviewed annually by the Policy Owner, or sooner following significant feedback from families, a change in EYFS requirements, or any recommendation from Ofsted.
Signed: Kellie Antonazzo, Manager