The RESPECT Project : Background Research

The backdrop to the RESPECT project was a broad consensus in the international early childhood research literature about staff-parent relationships. Researchers claim that good communication between staff and parents (as well as between staff):

• is a prerequisite for the high quality care and education of young children (Doherty-Derkowski, 1995);
• improves children’s cognitive and social development, increasing their educational success (e.g. Laloumi-Vidali, 1997; Endsley at al, 1993; Studer, 1993/4);
• contributes to good relations between children and between staff and children (e.g. Smith & Hubbard, 1988).
• increases parents’ understanding of appropriate educational practices and improves children’s development (e.g. Gelfer, 1991);
• improves children’s educational outcomes, especially literacy (e.g. Bryant, Peisner-Feinberg & Miller-Johnson, 2000; Cooter, Mills-House, Marrin & Mathews, 1999; Baker, Allen, Shockley, Pellegrini, Galda, & Stahl 1996);
• improves parental commitment to schooling (Izzo et al, 1999).