Introduce
Effective inclusive practice for family engagement in the early years involves creating environments where all families feel valued, respected, and actively involved in their child’s journey and development.
Some parents will find it harder to engage than others. This may include low-income families, ethnic minorities, parents with mental health problems, young parents and men. These groups are often under-represented in existing service provision and can be disproportionately impacted by a lack of awareness and accessibilities. It is important that families can relate to practitioners who may come from similar backgrounds and can share some of their experiences.
The phrase ‘hard to reach’ is often used to describe families who do not access services. This is a loaded term which is now being challenged, due to the implications that it it defines the problem as one within the family itself and gives them sole responsibility. Read more about this issue here: Why Language Matters.
In response to these challenges, the term seldom-heard was adopted. It is not that any families are hard to reach, the challenge is listening to them. In reality there are many disadvantaged and vulnerable groups who are perhaps heard – but ignored. Not all families have the same opportunities to engage and express themselves in a way that feels empowering to them.
Develop
Watch Rachel Hover from Home-Start GM discuss how family engagement can be inclusive:
Read: How can we improve parental engagement with minority ethnic families?
This article explores and challenges the narrative that minority ethnic parents are ‘hard to reach’. Would your own experiences lead you to similar conclusions?
Reflect
Stop and Reflect: The purpose of this activity is to consider the diverse parent community that you work with and reflect on your approach:
– Capture the diverse parent community that you work with by writing a list (e.g. refugees, kinship carers, parents whose first language is not English, disabled parents)
– Identify one of the diverse parent communities that you are trying to engage with. What barriers are you aware of?
– Are your communications inclusive and welcoming to all?
– Are existing interventions sensitive to the needs of these families?
– Identify one thing you might shift or change
Optional
Early Intervention Foundation (EIF) was commissioned by DWP to undertake a review to understand what is known about encouraging disadvantaged and vulnerable parents to take up, fully participate in and complete parenting and parental conflict programmes and services.
This is an optional resource which has the potential to equip practitioners with further knowledge and tools needed to effectively support and empower disadvantaged and vulnerable parents, ultimately benefiting the entire family.