Why effective communication is important in building positive relationships It is important to develop positive relationships with children, young people and adults. A Positive relationship is a relationship that benefits children and young people, and their ability to participate in and benefit from the setting. To develop this relationship we must communicate effectively. To communicate effectively we must think about how we speak to others and also how we respond to them. By communicating effectively we will be non-confusing and build up trust.
This will mean that we are more likely to have open and honest communication. It is important to communicate effectively with pupils so that they feel secure and comfortable to speak to you. This may mean that they will feel comfortable telling you that they are struggling with a certain aspect of their work, that they are having troubles with another child in the class or maybe that they will disclose information about their home life. We must also be effective with our communication so we can clearly set expectations and boundaries without being confusing.
If we communicate effectively with parents/carers and other adults that come into the school, we are more likely to receive their support. Ultimately this will be beneficial towards the pupils as we are more likely to have open communication with them. Effective communication with colleagues is important to make sure that we are able to share good practice and support each other. It is also important to make sure that the service you are providing is of the greatest value for the pupils, for example; if you are asked to work with a group of pupils and teach them something which you know they have already learnt.
It is important that you have a relationship with the teacher where you would feel comfortable telling them that the children have already learned that specific skill, and find out if it would be more beneficial to work with a different group or to teach them something else. If we do not communicate effectively it can mean that we are likely to avoid each other. This can lead to misunderstandings, a lack of trust and bad feelings. As such we will not achieve a positive relationship and not gain any of the benefits outlined above.