Quality Rating 5: Family Communication
Instructions
School-Age Only programs will upload the following to meet the requirements for Administrative Policies and Practices: Family Communication: ADM 6.5:
- A Communication Policy explaining that staff members communicate with families and/or teachers about:
- Child progress
- Concerns
- Program planning
- Statement of conference request procedures
The Policy or Statement Builder provides a step-by-step guide for creating your policy.
Communication Policy (School-Age Only)
Quality programs recognize the importance of open and shared communication. Policies and practices that support two-way communication allow you to connect with families and teachers, and for families and teachers to connect with you. It’s a chance for everyone to gain a deeper understanding of a child’s background, interests, and strengths, as well as areas of concern. Working together, you can exchange information, develop common goals, collaborate to address concerns, and partner with each other to support a child’s progress. At the same time, you are able to keep families and teachers informed and involved in your program’s plans.
Confidentiality and respect for privacy are important in establishing and maintaining strong and trusting relationships with families. It is helpful if your policy describes the steps you take to make sure that communications are kept confidential and private.
Formal conferences are one way to make sure you and families set aside time for structured and focused discussions about their children. These conferences may include representatives from other agencies, schools, or services that families and children access. Your policy should include the steps you take to keep information confidential and to respect the children’s and families’ privacy.
What does the documentation look like?
Your Communication Policy supports open and confidential communication regarding:
- Child progress
- Concerns
- Program planning
- Opportunities for conferences between staff and families
You may include information about the different ways families and teachers can expect to receive communication from you and your staff such as phone calls, emails, or written communication; and the ways families and teachers can communicate with you and your staff. For example, information about the best days and times to reach you, or the best method to contact you (phone, email, notes), is often helpful for others to know.
Include information about how often family conferences are held, how families are informed about conferences, and how they schedule conferences with you. Offer assurance that information is kept confidential.
Policy or Statement Builder
Develop a statement that describes your program’s approach to family communication. The Reflection Questions below will help you think about what you do in your program to capture it when creating your policy. Once you have spent time reflecting on the questions below, you’re ready to build your Family Communication Policy.
- How/when do you communicate with families?
- What type of information is shared with families?
- Do you have opportunities for conferences with families?
- How do you collaborate with agencies working with families, including special education services or school?
Once you have spent time reflecting on the questions, you have the option to download and save the Family Communication template to create your statement.
Technology Tips
Download the PDF.
Save the PDF.
Print the PDF.
Edit the PDF.
Do you need more time to think about writing your Family Communication Policy? Use the Writers Tips and Prompts to find examples and get more guidance.
Where can you learn more?
The Family Communication Tip Sheet gives you ideas to consider for communicating with families.
