Policy statement
Childhood experiences lay the foundations for later life. Parenting has a critical impact on children’s emotional, behavioural and educational development, and their health and wellbeing. At our Preschool, we always strive to work in partnership with parents to ensure positive outcomes for children.
One of the first steps in this partnership is to home visit families prior to the child (and family) starting at Roots and Wings Community Preschool. Visiting children and their family members in their home environment prior to them starting with us has huge benefits. The insights that Preschool Team members gain into each child’s home and background greatly helps them to assess their level of need in Preschool and prepare for the child’s entry into the setting. The children also benefit from their key person visiting them at home, it often becomes a talking point upon the first few visits at Preschool and beyond, providing a basis for the new loving and trusting relationship forming.
For our Roots and Wings Community Preschool Team, a home visit provides the opportunity to:
- establish early, positive contact
- build up a warm caring relationship with the child and family before the child starts Preschool
- meet children in their own familiar setting
- meet other family members, people and pets who are important to the children
- encourage families to share with us as much information as possible about their child to support with settling in and future learning needs being met
- get a ‘wider view’ of the family such as customs, beliefs, child rearing practices and systems upon which to build or support
- work in partnership with parent/carers and their children to support early intervention on specific issues relating to their child’s development. These usually take the form of behaviour, speech and language, personal, social and physical development
- share information about the Preschool and break barriers down, especially if parent/carers have deep routed anxieties about the early education system, schools and institutions
- get a picture of the child’s interests to begin our planning with a child-initiated approach to learning
- understand the problems that children might encounter at Preschool, and also to appreciate the wealth of learning that goes on in the home
Procedures
Preschool Team Member Guidance
Structure of home visits
Preschool Team members make home visit in pairs. As well as the obvious safety implications, this allows one staff member to talk to the child’s parents / carers, and the other to focus solely on the child. This means that the parent / carer has focused time with a member of our staff team. Thirty minutes is the standard period of time devoted to each home visit. Visits typically take place either during the term before children are due to start attending Preschool or at the beginning of their start term. Families are always contacted in advance to confirm the appointment.
Equipment needed
All visits need careful structuring and prepared resources. Visiting staff members will take a welcome pack with them when visiting a child and their families in their home. This would usually contain an introduction of the team, details of the Preschool day, expectations and rules about attendance, along with the All about Me forms that would need to be filled in with the help of the families. A child may then engage in play with their allocated keyperson whilst the other team member interacts with the family member/s.
Preschool Team members should take a mobile phone for safety reasons, a map to locate addresses, and a range of toys and books for the child to play with.
Before the visit
- Make appointments in advance and offer alternative dates/times
- Ensure that families know when you will arrive, how long you will stay, what will happen, what kinds of questions you will be asking and what information you will bring (Appendix 2 – Parents’ Information Sheet)
- Ask them to think about the information they need from you in advance of the meeting
- Accept the right of a family not to accept a home visit and offer an alternative option (virtual visit of visit at Preschool)
- Confirm parents / carers name. Do not presume that there are two parents with the same surname as the child • Do not assume that all parents/ carers are literate
- Make sure you consider diversity of social, cultural, racial, religious and sexual orientation
- Familiarise yourself with the location of the home and the route your will take before you leave
- Leave details of your visiting schedule with team members remaining at Preschool
- Ensure you have a charged mobile phone
During the visit
- Wear the Preschool uniform to informs the parent of who you are
- Show respect for parents / carers as equal partners
- Be a good listener
- Be aware of pets and other adults who may be in the home
- Sit near a door or exit and if you feel uneasy or worried at any time, make an excuse and leave
- Staff should avoid commenting on a child’s home or provision. Families should feel reassured that no judgement is being made on their home or lifestyle
- Staff should demonstrate an awareness and respect for differing cultures
- They should comply with appropriate customs such as removing shoes, wearing modest clothing etc.
- Staff should remain aware of time constraints on both themselves and parents
After the visit
- Complete and put the ‘All About Me’ (Appendix 1) form in the child’s administration file. Making note of particular interests for planning settling in days
- Hand Early Help Form to the setting SENDCo to review and signpost family to support or escalate obtaining parental consent for referrals to outside agencies
- If any incident has occurred or any concerns arise with regards to safeguarding, staff should record concerns and speak to the setting’s Designated Safeguarding Lead immediately
- Team to meet to reflect current procedures and disseminate any relevant information to all team members
Protocols for All Home Visits
Risk Assessment:
- Where possible, check records to see what information is available
- Talk to other professionals who may already have had contact or involvement with the family
- Discuss strategies to adopt when working with a potentially challenging parent / carer / family member with a member of the Management Team
- Preschool Team members have the right to refuse attending home visits if they feel unsafe in any way
- Where risks are identified, arrange an alternative meeting environment
Health and Safety
- A home visits risk assessment should be read and understood by staff members undertaking home visits. This will identify any potential risks and appropriate measures to be taken
- Inform a nominated member of staff when you are leaving for a home visit
- Leave the details of the home visit schedule with a senior member of staff. Include a list of visit addresses and times including family name, child’s name, address and telephone number.
- You must inform the nominated person if there is a cancellation or alteration to the time
- Demonstrate normal courtesy – wait to be invited into the home
- If a child answers the door, ask if an adult is present in the house before entering. Do not enter if an adult is not present
- If the parent / carer appears at all uncomfortable about the visit continuing, staff should offer to leave, offer to continue the contact with a telephone call and give the parent / carer the telephone number of the Preschool
- Use common sense, trust your instincts and if a situation feels dangerous or threatening – leave immediately
- When entering homes, call the designated person back at school when entering the house and again immediately after leaving the house
- The designated person will call to check in if the visit has taken longer than 30 minutes. If the phone is not answered on 2 occasions, an alert will be made and help will be sought
Appendix 1
All about Me
My name is: ………………………………………………………….
I like to be called: …………………………………………….
My birthday is: ………………………………………………….
People who are important to me
| My Family and what I call them | My Special Friends |
| Other people who are important to me |
Things I would like you to know about me
| What do I like playing with at home? |
| What do I like playing with in the garden or outside? |
| Do I spend time with anyone other than my parents? (eg family or childminder?) – if so, what do I call them? |
Other things I would like you to know about me
| I do not like: | I need help with: |
| Special things I need: (dietary requirements, healthcare plan) | How do I express when I am sad/happy/hurt/need the toilet, etc (including words in my mothertongue and behaviour patterns, such as I rarely cry unless I’m hurt, I don’t like to be cuddled when I’m upset) |
| My birth was… (e.g. quick birth, I needed help after birth, etc) | These people are involved in my life: (health visitor, social worker, family support worker, etc – please include full name and contact number) |
Settling-in Plan
Our settling in process is guided completely by each individual child and their individual needs as we go – it is not about getting in quick. It’s about making each child feel safe and happy when they are here so they can make the most of their Preschool journey
| Things that make me feel happy about starting my new setting: | Is there anything which might worry me when I start my new setting?: |
If a risk assessment is needed – eg for healthcare needs, please make sure this has been completed.
| Have you talked about going to Preschool? |
| Has my two-year check been completed? (please provide us with a copy if applicable) |
| Activities that I enjoyed during my taster sessions: |
Parents Voice:
| What I/we would love for my child/How I/we see them in the future: |
| What I/we would like them to gain from their time at Preschool: |
| I am/we are worried about… (this can be anything from leaving your child for the first time to any developmental concerns you may have) |
| If you have any concerns, have you discussed these with a health visitor/give us permission to discuss these with your health visitor? |
Questions you may like to ask during a keyworker meeting:
- What do they play with at home?
- What do they enjoy playing with in the garden?
- Can they put their own wellies on?
- Are they toilet-trained, or in the process of being so?
- Do they stay with other adults at all – eg family, close friends, childminder
- Do they have any health needs, will they need any medication on site?
- Do they play independently at home?
- What do you as parents do if they are upset at home?
- Do they still nap at home?
- How much do I normally eat at home?
- Where do I eat my dinner? (table/in front of telly etc)
- Do I share a bedroom with another child or is it my own room?
- What time do I normally go to bed and how do I sleep?
- Who will regularly pick up your child?
- Is there anyone who is not able to pick up your child? (and why? Please inform the manager)
Appendix 2
Parent / carer home visit information sheet
What is a home visit?
As the name suggests, a home visit is an informal visit to your home by two members of the Preschool Team. It is usually carried out when your child has been offered a place at the setting but before they actually start.
Why do home visits?
Home visits are a really good way for staff to begin to get to know both you and your child and vice versa. It is a great opportunity to spend some time in a relaxed atmosphere, exchanging information and planning your child’s start at the setting. You will also have the chance to ask questions and express any concerns you may have. It is not an inspection of you or your home! You are under no obligation to accept a home visit, and a meeting can be arranged at the setting if you prefer. All information is considered confidential and will not be shared without your permission.
Who will do the home visit?
Two members of the Preschool Team will visit your home, one of them being your child’s allocated keyperson.
How long will it take?
The length of the visit can vary; it is usually around 30 minutes.
What will happen at the home visit?
We know that children like to be busy and active! Your child’s allocated keyperson will usually get to know your child by playing with them and showing them books or photos of the setting. Your child may also like to share some of their favourite toys or activities with the practitioner. The other member of staff will complete some basic information forms with you, give you a welcome pack and go through some details about your child starting Preschool. You will also have the opportunity to ask any questions or share any concerns you may have.
How should I prepare for a home visit?
- Have your registration form ready and filled out. If you need a new form, please just let us know and we will bring a spare to the visit.
- Try to remove any distractions, for example family pets. It is also helpful if the television has been turned off.
- Have some of your child’s favourite toys or play things available as these can help the keyperson to engage with your child.
- Prepare a list of questions you may want to ask.
- If you have any questions, worries or concerns about your home visit or would like any further information, please contact us at the setting.