Parental Engagement: Not New, Just Proven

In early years education, we’re often encouraged to try new initiatives, frameworks and interventions. But one of the most powerful drivers of children’s learning isn’t new at all.
Parental engagement has been the subject of increasing research over the last four decades, and the findings are remarkably consistent: when families are actively involved in their children’s learning, outcomes improve, both in the early years and well beyond.

Back in 2003, Charles Desforges summarised it clearly:

“There is a need to engage parents more effectively in their children’s learning and the impact that learning at home can have on children’s achievement.”

That’s over 20 years ago, and the message still holds. The Effective Provision of Preschool Education (EPPE) Project, one of the most influential UK studies in early years education, found that:

“Parents’ involvement in home learning activities makes an important difference to children’s attainment.” (Sylva et al., 2010)

And this isn’t limited to preschool. A review by Goodall and Vorhaus (2011) found that:

“The more parents are engaged in the education of their children, the more likely their children are to succeed in the education system.”

In other words, parental engagement isn’t a passing trend. It’s a tried, tested and transformative approach to giving children the best possible start.

Why it matters more than ever

While the research on parental engagement is longstanding, its relevance feels more urgent than ever. In the wake of COVID-19, many early years settings made significant efforts to close the attainment gap, support school readiness, and rebuild relationships with families. Although these responses may have felt like short-term crisis measures at the time, it quickly became clear that engaging parents and communities brings long-term rewards. The pandemic brought the importance of parental engagement into sharper focus, and its benefits are now widely recognised as central to statutory provision. Initiatives like Ready Steady Stoke demonstrate the value of connecting wider networks to create supportive environments where parents feel equipped and empowered to play a full role in their child’s learning and development.

That’s why engaging parents in simple, meaningful ways is so important. When parents feel welcomed, included, and equipped to support their child’s development, it has a ripple effect across the home and setting.

What does this look like in practice?

Parental engagement doesn’t have to mean big events or new initiatives. It can start with the everyday.
Here are just a few ways early years practitioners are making it work:

• Easy activity ideas sent home once a week help build a shared language between home and setting.
• A whiteboard at the door with a daily question: “Ask your child what they saw on the way to school today.”
• ‘How to’ videos that show what is happening in school, encouraging parents to try the same at home.
• Inviting parents in for ‘stay and play’ mornings, not just as observers but as partners in learning.

“He couldn’t concentrate before or look at a book. The other day, he said before he went to bed ‘reading time’ – I was amazed. He’s doing so much better since we did these activities with him at home.“  

Barriers are real but not insurmountable.

Of course, this work isn’t always easy. Early years teams are stretched. Families face barriers as well, such as language, time, confidence, or previous negative experiences with education.

But the message from research is reassuring: it’s not about perfection. It’s about connection. Even small actions make a difference when they’re rooted in trust and respect.

Start by asking: How can we build from what families already do well? What small gesture might open the door to greater involvement?

Supporting you in engaging families

At Mouse Club, we know how much early years professionals already do. That’s why we create practical, low-cost resources to help you build stronger links between home and setting, without adding to your workload.

We’ve designed our play-based resources to be shared with families, spark conversation, and support simple, meaningful learning at home whether it’s a story to read together, a prompt to explore outdoors, or a question to ask at bedtime, every small moment counts.

We also share regular ideas, inspiration and free resources through our newsletter, designed especially for early years staff who want to strengthen parental engagement in a manageable, evidence-informed way.

📬 Sign up to our newsletter today to receive:

• Free downloadable resources
• Ideas from other practitioners doing this work
• Tips for connecting with families in inclusive, creative ways

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Let’s stop treating parental engagement as an ‘extra’. It’s not new, and it’s not optional; it’s essential. And together, we can make it easier to do well.