Issue 20 summer 2010

Welcome to the summer term edition of Horizons from the Early Education and Childcare Unit (EECU) at Hampshire County Council.

In this issue we are focussing on partnerships with parents, particularly dads and grandparents. The Childcare and Family Information Team (Cfit, formerly CIS) has provided an excellent article on this topic and this can be found here, also please see the area pages for tried and tested ideas on including dads and grandparents in setting activities. We have selected this theme as it is parents that have the most impact upon children’s learning and development and working in partnership with parents means that providers can maximise effectiveness. We are also looking at the Home Learning Environment, see here for an in depth article from the NCMA.

Horizons has a new section featuring news from Children’s Links – you can find out more about them and the support they offer on the Children's Links pages.

Hopefully the summer term will bring some good weather and you’ll consider the invitation to join the NSPCC’s annual Pedal Push.

Also, learn how to get more out of Hampshire’s libraries with Bookstart+. A Bookstart poster  2mb, for display, was issued with this copy of Horizons.

Don’t forget to visit our website www.hants.gov.uk/childcare for regularly updated information and new developments.

For the summer issue training courses click here.

Thank you for all the contributions to this issue of Horizons, I hope your work in the summer term is enjoyable and impactful.

Tracey Sanders
Head of the Early Education and Childcare Unit