Parental Engagement and Relationships (PEAR) Training

CDI’s ‘Parental Engagement and Relationships’ (PEAR) training supports Early Learning and Care (ELC) practitioners to develop and maintain strong relationships with parents. It is interactive, based on reflective practice and delivered through six 2-hour sessions.

The training and accompanying toolkit are based on CDI’s experience providing effective support to parents through ELC services in Tallaght. It has been designed by:

Professor Emer Ring, Dean of Early Childhood and Teacher Education at Mary Immaculate College (MIC)
Dr Lisha O’Sullivan, Head of the Department of Reflective Pedagogy and Early Childhood Studies, MIC
Shirley Heaney, National Programme Coordinator, Leadership for INClusion in the Early Years (LINC) Programme, MIC

The PEAR training has six modules, each delivered through two-hour sessions:

Module 1: Strengths Based Approach to Parenting

Module 2: Building Relationships

Module 3: Inclusion and Partnership

Module 4: Improving the Home Learning Environment

Module 5: Supporting Transitions (from Home to ELC to Primary School)

Module 6: Support with Childhood Difficulties and Referrals.

The accompanying PEAR toolkit (e-version) will be given free to all participants. The toolkit includes a variety of practical resources and templates. For example: induction forms; parent meeting records; sample parent tip sheets; and a parent satisfaction survey.