recognize that particular individuals' general shyness and a lack of confidence may prevent them from discussing their issues and concerns;
ensure that when parents bring their child to the centre and collect them, there regularly time for informal staff-parent communication, but remember that parents may have little time to discuss their child's moods, foods and behaviour;
remember that parents can talk more easily to staff at the end of the day if their child has been involved in a quiet activity and is relaxed;
raise any concerns with a parent at a special time, away from the daily bustle;
don't expect parents to feel confident in formal meetings if they have little or no experience of such meetings and of the procedures used in meetings, and encourage parents to participate by introducing parents to each other, providing refreshments and supplementing formal 'business' meetings with informal 'social';
remember that parents enjoy being able to discuss issues of concern with each other