HETTY Preschool

Partnership

Working in Partnership with Families

At HETTY, we believe parents and carers know their children best. By sharing knowledge, experiences and ideas, we can give every child consistent, individual support and help them feel happy, confident and secure.

We value the relationships we build with our families and provide many opportunities for you to take part in nursery life, discuss your child’s progress, meet the team and connect with our wider HETTY community.

The National Day Nurseries Association also offers helpful, free information for families beginning their early-years journey. You can explore its resources for parents and carers here.

Your Child’s Key Person

Every child is welcomed by a named key person who takes a special interest in their care, learning and development throughout their time at HETTY.

Your child’s key person will take time to get to know their personality, interests, routines and individual needs. Through a warm and trusting relationship, they will help your child settle, feel secure and confidently explore new experiences.

The key person will:

  • support your child’s emotional well-being and sense of belonging;
  • observe their learning through everyday play and routines;
  • celebrate their interests, achievements and special moments;
  • plan experiences that reflect their individual development and curiosity;
  • keep you informed about their progress;
  • work closely with you to support learning at HETTY and at home.

Observations and assessments help us develop your child’s personalised learning pathway, sometimes referred to as a Possible Lines of Development or PLODs.

Evidence Me

Evidence Me is our secure online learning journal. It allows you to see and contribute to your child’s experiences and development at HETTY.

Your child’s journal may include:

  • observations from their key person;
  • photographs of learning and play;
  • assessments and developmental updates;
  • examples of creativity;
  • achievements and “WOW” moments;
  • ideas for continuing learning at home.

Families can also add photographs, videos, comments and special moments from home. Sharing this information helps us build a fuller picture of your child’s interests, experiences and development.

Only authorised people can access your child’s journal, in accordance with HETTY’s privacy and data-protection procedures.

WOW Moments

Every new achievement matters, and we love celebrating the moments that make your child proud.

A WOW moment could be fastening a coat, trying a new food, writing their name, joining in with a song or showing kindness to a friend. It does not need to be a major milestone—it simply needs to be meaningful to your child.

Families can share WOW moments from home through Evidence Me. Children may also have opportunities to talk about and celebrate their achievements together during Hello Time.

All About Me

Before your child starts at HETTY, we will invite you to complete an All About Me form.

This helps us learn about your child before their first session, including:

  • the people and things that are important to them;
  • their favourite stories, songs, toys and activities;
  • their routines and preferences;
  • what they enjoy eating;
  • how they communicate;
  • what helps them feel calm and secure;
  • what they can already do;
  • anything new they are beginning to learn.

This information helps the key person plan a warm, familiar and individual welcome for your child.

Progress Check at Age Two

Every child who attends an early-years setting between the ages of two and three will receive a statutory progress check. Your child’s key person will complete this with you, sharing information about their strengths, interests and development.

The review focuses particularly on the three prime areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage:

  • Communication and Language;
  • Physical Development;
  • Personal, Social and Emotional Development.

Where possible, information from the HETTY progress check can be considered alongside your child’s health and development review. Bringing together the knowledge of families, early-years practitioners and health professionals helps create a more complete picture of your child.

You may also receive an ASQ-3 questionnaire and an invitation to meet with your child’s health professional. If any additional support may be helpful, this will be discussed sensitively with you so that appropriate action can be taken promptly.

Parent Meetings and Everyday Conversations

We hold a parents’ evening each year, giving you dedicated time to meet with your child’s key person and discuss their learning, well-being and development in more detail. You will also be able to review their latest assessment information and agree any next steps together.

You do not need to wait for a formal meeting to speak with us. Our open-door approach means you can share information or raise a concern at any time. Longer or confidential conversations can be arranged with your child’s key person, the SENCO or a member of the management team.

Our HETTY Community

HETTY is proud to be part of the Hoole community, and we enjoy involving families and local people in nursery life.

Throughout the year, we welcome visitors from different professions and backgrounds to share their knowledge and experiences with the children. Parents and carers are also invited to contribute in ways that feel comfortable to them, such as:

  • reading a favourite story;
  • sharing a hobby, language, celebration or tradition;
  • talking about their work;
  • helping with gardening or creative activities;
  • supporting a special event.

These experiences help children learn about the people, cultures and opportunities within their community and the wider world.

Keeping You Informed

We share news, reminders and important information through:

  • the HETTY website;
  • Evidence Me;
  • newsletters;
  • email;
  • our Facebook and Instagram pages;
  • conversations with the HETTY team.

Please ensure we have your current contact details so you do not miss important information.

Policies and Procedures

HETTY’s policies and procedures are available through our website. They explain how we keep children safe, support their learning and well-being, and maintain high standards across the setting.

We welcome feedback from families and use it to reflect on and improve the care and education we provide.

If you have a question, suggestion or concern, please speak to a member of the team, telephone us or send us an email. We are always happy to help.