Strengthening Family Communication: Beyond “They Had a Great Day”

Ensuring families feel informed and engaged is more than a compliance checkbox—it’s the foundation of true collaboration that supports each child’s learning journey. National Quality Standard (NQS) Element 1.3.3 requires services to keep families up-to-date about the educational program and their child’s progress. Simply saying “they had a great day” plus an end-of-year report falls short of this intent. Here’s how to enrich daily communication, meet compliance expectations, and foster home-to-service learning continuity.

Understanding NQS Element 1.3.3

Element 1.3.3 states:

Information for families: Families are informed about the program and their child’s progress.

Key expectations include:

Regular insights into how the program unfolds and how each child engages with learning experiences.
Two-way dialogue that invites family input, questions, and suggestions.
Documentation of individual learning milestones, not simply group or surface-level updates.

Why “Great Day” Isn’t Enough

Requirement	“They had a great day” only	Improved Practice
Inform families about daily learning	No detail on learning	Share specific observations, photos, or anecdotes
Reflect individual progress	No individual evidence	Publish learning stories tied to outcomes
Enable two-way dialogue	One-way, superficial	Invite family questions and home extension ideas
Connect program content to home learning	No suggestions	Provide practical play or discussion prompts

Daily Communication Strategies

Learning Stories & Observations
- Post brief narratives or digital snapshots highlighting a child’s play, problem-solving, or social interactions.
- Link each story to EYLF outcomes or learning intentions.
Program Overviews
- Display the weekly or daily program in your foyer or online portal.
- Note which activities your child accessed, with running commentary on emerging interests.
Two-Way Portals
- Use apps or journals where families can comment, ask questions, and share home experiences.
- Respond within 24 hours to model genuine collaboration.
Photo & Portfolio Updates
- Curate mini-portfolios that include photos, work samples, and checklists of skill development.
- Rotate featured children weekly so every family gains a window into classroom life.

Summative Assessments: Complement, Don’t Replace

End-of-year or termly reports have value—they consolidate progress against developmental milestones. But they should:

Draw on accumulated daily evidence (observations, photos, conversations).
Reference earlier snapshots so families see growth over time.
Include specific next steps and home-based extension ideas.

Fostering Home-Service Learning Continuity

Extend the Play
Suggest one activity per week that mirrors in-service experiences (e.g., “Try this sink-float experiment in the kitchen sink and tell us what happens!”).
Family Workshops
Host short, one-hour sessions where families co-create or trial classroom experiences at home.
Reflection Prompts
Send a monthly question to families: “What surprised you about your child’s curiosity this month?” Use responses to inform programming.

Quick Compliance Checklist

Action	Frequency	Outcome
Share a learning story per child	Weekly	Families see individual progress and ask targeted questions
Display/update program overview	Daily/Weekly	Transparency into curriculum and child engagement
Digital/photo portfolio update	Bi-monthly	Visual record of skills, work samples, and social milestones
Family feedback invitations	Ongoing	Strengthened two-way partnership and responsive programming
Provide home-extension suggestions	Weekly	Reinforces learning and values the home environment as co-educator

Elevating family communication isn’t just about ticking boxes—it’s about forging partnerships that empower children both at the service and at home. By embedding specific, regular, and two-way updates into your practice, you’ll not only comply with NQS 1.3.3 but also weave families into every child’s learning story.