Setting up a Parent Champions scheme
How it works
Based on evidence that word-of-mouth is parents’ most important source of information on childcare, Parent Champions reach the families in your community who miss out on vital information about how to access childcare and other early years services. Being parents themselves, they are able to share their own positive experiences of your services in a relatable, trusted and informal way.
Most schemes run with six to eight volunteers, who typically spend around five hours a week meeting parents. We will work with you every step of the way to launch your Parent Champions scheme:
- Initial chat to get to know you, your needs and how the programme could work for you
- Select the focus of your scheme and training package
- Meet with you, your colleagues and relevant stakeholders to discuss your goals and to nominate a Parent Champions Coordinator
- Equip your Parent Champions Coordinator with the tools they need for recruitment, management and monitoring and evaluation
- Deliver a full day training session, or two half day training sessions, to develop your volunteers into Parent Champions
- Launch your scheme with access to our on-going support, resources and plenty of perks as a member of the Parent Champions National Network
Benefits for volunteers
- Builds volunteers’ confidence and transferable skills
- Creates a pathway to training and employment
- Provides opportunities for volunteers to give back to their communities
Find out more about volunteering here
Benefits for families
- Raises parents’ awareness of early years education, childcare and local family services, improving their children’s outcomes
- Increases access to free early education for two, three and four year olds
- Brings families into children’s centres and other community settings
- Allows families to be involved in the development of local services
- Works to support minority groups and their engagement with services
Benefits for local authorities
Parent Champions schemes can be delivered by your Family Information Service or Early Years team directly, or through a delivery partner, such as a children’s centre or community organisation.
- Enhances the quality and capacity of your outreach work
- Helps you engage with isolated or ‘hard to reach’ parents
- Increases the uptake of vital family services in your community, particularly free early education for two, three and four-year-olds
Parent Champions have helped local authorities meet their legislative duties and ability to manage welfare reform, including:
- Improve the wellbeing of young children in your area and reduce inequalities between young children by focusing on children most at risk of poor outcomes
- Secure sufficient children’s centres provision to meet local need
- Include parental representation on children’s centre advisory boards
- Consult with parents about changes to or proposed closures of children’s centres
- Secure sufficient childcare for working parents
- Secure sufficient childcare for children with special education needs and disabilities
- Provide information, advice and assistance to parents
- Inform eligible parents of free childcare places for two and three and four-year-olds
Benefits for early years professionals
All schools, children’s centres and childcare settings know that valuing and working with parents improves outcomes for children. Parent Champions schemes can bridge the gap between you and your wider community.
- Encourages take up of your childcare services, particularly free early education for two, three and four year olds
- Engages with your local communities, particularly isolated or ‘hard to reach’ parents
- Helps you understand and better meet the needs of your service’s parents
- Encourages parents to participate in parent evenings, support meetings and the development of your services
- Boost children’s educational attainment by encouraging learning in the home
- Increases the uptake of additional services you may offer, such as after school clubs or ESOL classes
About our packages
Parent Champions for Free Childcare for Two-Year Olds
Parent Champions for the two-year-old free childcare offer supports parents eligible for free childcare to find out about, engage with and access this service to improve outcomes for themselves and their children.
Find out moreParent Champions for Home Learning
Parent Champions for Home Learning supports parents to find out more about the benefits of home learning, how they can learn at home with their child and how to engage with local services that can support them.
Find out moreParent Champions for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
Parent Champions for SEND focus on what specialist support is available locally and nationally, understand the barriers families often face in accessing services, and are able to offer practical solutions.
Find out moreParent Champions for Resilient Families
Parent Champions for Resilient Families focuses on supporting families less likely to access early education and local services due to complex and multiple needs.
Find out moreParent Champions for Community Connections
Community Connections combats isolation through supporting parents to engage in their local community.
Find out moreMore information
To find out more information on Setting up a Parent Champions scheme and how it could work in your local community, please complete the form below and we will get in touch.
To find out more information on Setting up a Parent Champions scheme and how it could work in your local community, please complete the form below and we will get in touch.