Newsletter: Tuesday, 16th Mar 10

Spring 2010

Clare Family Learning Project Newsletter

 

Research and Links

1. NALA (National Adult Literacy Agency) have produced a Family Literacy Policy Brief in September 2009.

Click on link at http://www.nala.ie/index.cfm/section/publications/ext/policy_brief_2009/

 

 

2. Young people’s writing: Attitudes, behaviour and the role of technology.

This report outlines the findings from 3001 pupils aged 8-16 from England and Scotland, who completed an online survey in May 2009. It explores gender and age differences, and examines the link between socio-economic background and writing. Furthermore, it explores young people's writing with respect to mobile phone ownership, having a blog and having a profile on a social networking site. It concludes with practical and policy implications. November 2009.

http://www.nationalliteracytrust.org.uk/research/Executive_summary_Writing_survey_2009.pdf

 

3. Latest update from a range of providers in UK Family Learning Network

http://www.campaign-for-learning.org.uk/familylearningnetwork/assets/documents/Attachments/Pages/NFLN-Autumn-newsletter-2009.pdf

 

4. http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/  has a new look website visit Talk to your baby for a list of resources to support new parents. http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/talk_to_your_baby/resources/talk_to_your_baby_resources

 

5. We are setting up two Parents and school children ‘Growing Together’ school gardens at present. A tutor works with the parents and guides their work. We hope to have the children come up with garden designs and we can incorporate their ideas.

For a good guide to setting up school gardens look up this resource.

http://www.fao.org/docrep/009/a0218e/a0218e00.htm

 

 

Developments

 

6. Traveller and settled people learning together.

A number of our classes are now integrated. We have mixed Traveller and settled Cookery, Stained Glass, Car Mechanics and Computers courses. A very positive outcome from mixed classes has been new friendships, understanding and supports amongst participants.

 

 7. Progression routes.

Family learning continues to hook new learners into adult education centres.

Learners have attended classes in schools such as: Bilingual storybags, English to support parents of primary school children, Fun maths games to make and play, Number storybags

By providing informal courses for parents with children in schools, we have found that these learners are more likely to progress onto more formal learning opportunities in mainstream centres such as English Language, Horticulture, Cookery, Computers and Sewing.

 

8. Engaging Roma Parents

Clare Family Learning Project are hoping to engage Roma parents in more programmes this year. One of the local schools has a very high percentage of Roma children attending. We are hoping to have parents and carers involved in a variety of new programmes e.g. Growing Together and designing and making garden furniture.

 

9. Sewing for the Family

These classes have proven very popular with parents. The programme includes basic sewing techniques, using a sewing machine, using patterns and alternations. The classes have proved so popular we are now running four per week.

Mary Flanagan

Clare Family Learning Project

 

 

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