Family Learning
& Community
Learning
Information
Summer 2015 – 2016
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Family Learning
“Family learning programmes enable parents to develop the skills
and knowledge to support their children. Research shows that family
learning could increase the overall level of children’s development by
as much as 15 percentage points for those from disadvantaged
groups and provide an average reading improvement equivalent to
six months of reading age” Family Learning Works. The Enquiry into
Family Learning in England & Wales Oct 2013
Aims and Objectives of Family Learning
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To raise children’s attainment in English and/or Maths
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To give targeted children intensive small group support
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To give families the opportunity to work together
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To provide opportunities for adults to support their children’s learning and
to develop an understanding of how children learn
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To create opportunities for parents/carers to gain confidence and skills for
their own learning and to progress onto further education and training
Selecting the Right Offer for Your School
The Family Learning Offer includes:
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English courses (for fluent speakers of English)
Language courses (for parents whose first language is not English)
Maths courses
Keeping Up with the Children courses
Family ICT courses
Wider Family Learning courses
Please note that, throughout, we use the terms:
 English (literacy) in relation to fluent and native speakers of English
 Language in relation to those for whom English is not their first
language (ESOL)
FEML courses
FEML courses are free. Learners must be eligible for public funding.
Currently, funding is available for a crèche, but the school is responsible
for organising this.
Family English
This course runs for 10 weeks and requires parents and children to attend 2
sessions each week.
During both weekly sessions, the children and adults work separately for the 1st
hour to work on their agreed learning targets and then the groups join together
for the 2nd hour to consolidate their learning.
We recognise, however, that accommodation can be in short supply. In this
case, we can discuss with you the model of delivery which will best suit
your needs.
Parents will focus on how they can engage with their child’s learning, support
their children with their speaking, listening, reading and writing, help them
understand the importance of their role as educators and develop awareness of
how children are taught at school. In the adult only sessions, parents have the
opportunity to look at and identify their own speaking, listening, reading and
writing needs.
Adult learners accessing this course will need to be fluent speakers of English.
Progression:
Adults will have the opportunity to complete a portfolio of learning and they will
be encouraged to progress onto core English provision delivered by Hounslow
Adult and Community Education.
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Family Language
This course runs on the same model as English courses (see above). The
course is designed for families where the parents/carers are non-native speakers
of English who have some grasp of English.
Progression:
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Adults will have the opportunity to complete a portfolio of learning and they will
be encouraged to progress onto core ESOL provision delivered by Hounslow
Adult and Community Education.
Family Maths
These courses run for 8 or10 weeks and require parents and children to attend 3
times a week (for 8 weeks) or twice a week (for 10 weeks). The first 2 sessions
each week are delivered separately with the children and adults working on their
own learning targets. The 3rd session, is a joint session where the children and
adults work together on joint activities.
Parents will focus on how they can engage with their child’s learning, support
their children with their maths, help them understand the importance of their role
as educators and develop awareness of how children are taught at school. In the
adult only sessions, parents/carers have the opportunity to look at and identify
their own number, measure, shape, space and data handling needs.
Please note that parents/carers will need reasonable levels of English to
access this course
Progression:
The adults have the opportunity to build a portfolio of learning and progress to
onto core Maths provision delivered by Hounslow Adult and Community
Education.
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Keeping Up With the Children (KUWTC)
KUWTC English & Maths, KUWTC Language & Maths and KUWTC Maths are
courses are for adults (parents/family carers) only. There is a 2 hour session
each week for 6 weeks (morning or afternoon options are usually available).
These courses help parents understand the school’s literacy and/or maths
curriculum, give them the opportunity to try out various methods of learning used
by their children and give advice and guidance on how to help children with their
homework.
KUWTC English & Maths is for parents whose 1st language is English and
those who are fluent speakers of English.
KUWTC Language & Maths is for parents whose 1st language is not English
but who have a reasonable grasp of English.
KUWTC Maths is for parents who are native speakers or have a good grasp
of English.
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Progression:
Adults may progress to the FEML and WFL programmes or ESOL (English for
Speakers of Other Languages) or the Maths/English core programme, as
appropriate.
Early Years – Keeping up with the Children
(KUWTC)
These courses are for parents who have pre-school children aged from 6 months
to 5 years. Sessions are focused on practical activities for parents to explore the
value of play, recognize the importance of praise, expand speaking, listening and
numeracy skills, find out more about the early years foundation stage and what to
expect when their children start school. .
KUWTC English is for parents whose 1st language is English and those who
are good speakers of English.
KUWTC English & Maths is for parents whose 1st language is English and
those who are good speakers of English.
KUWTC Language is for parents who are native speakers with a reasonable
grasp of English.
Progression:
Adults are encouraged to progress to the Early Years FEML and Wider Family
Learning programme or the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages),
English or Maths core programmes.
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Early Years – Let’s Start Learning Together
These courses run for between 3 & 5 weeks for 1½ - 2 hours each week. They
are for parents and their children, aged from 2 to 5 years, to learn together
through, for example, stories, rhymes, singing, counting, science, creative crafts,
movement and supported play activities. Parents and children learn together for
all sessions. Parents will need a reasonable level of English to gain the most out
of the courses.
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Story-telling, Rhymes and Crafts (with a focus on
English/Language)
Rhymes, Counting and Crafts (with a focus on Maths)
Rhymes, Singing and Movement
Science Play & Talk
Learning through Supported Play with English/Language &
Maths
Toddler Technology Play & Talk
Progression:
Parents/carers are encouraged to progress Family English and Maths
programmes or to ESOL, English or Maths core provision.
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Family ICT
Family ICT courses are free.
These courses are for parents and their children to learn ICT skills together
and are usually delivered at the end of the school day. Parents and children,
aged 6 years +, learn together for all sessions.
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Family ICT – This course runs for 5 weeks and each session is 2 hours.
The course covers the basic computing skills through informal,
differentiated, fun activities. Children gain from learning in a small secure
group and adults gain employability skills and the skills and confidence to
support their children’s learning of ICT.
Family Internet Fun (with Internet Safety) – This course also runs for 5
weeks and each session is 2 hours. Parents and children learn how to
use appropriate search engines to gain information from the Internet and
to send emails and attachments. Also covered is basic computer
programming in line with the National Curriculum. Adults will gain skills
which are important in employment and for job searching as well for
pleasure. They will also gain confidence to support their children’s
learning. The course includes how to keep safe when using the Internet.
Internet Safety - Essential courses for parents and their children which
run for 3 weeks for 2 hours each week. Parents gain awareness of the
risks to their children, when surfing and using social websites, and how to
keep their children safe. They will also learn how to keep themselves safe
when surfing, shopping and banking.
Progression:
Hounslow Adult and Community Education offers a wide range of Business and
Computing courses. The tutor will provide information and advice about
progression routes for adults.
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Wider Family Learning (WFL)
WFL courses are free.
Wider Family Learning gives opportunities for families to enjoy learning new skills
together in an informal and fun environment. Parents/carers work closely
together with their child/children on specific tasks, enabling them to be more
active in the support of their children’s learning and development and in
understanding the impact of this support. The WFL offer includes a wide range
of learning areas such as:
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Dance
Yoga
Healthy cooking
French & Arabic
First Aid
A wide range of visual arts and crafts
Fashion and textiles
Drama
Gardening
Courses are for parents and their children to learn together for all sessions
and are usually delivered at the end of the school day. Courses usually run for 5
weeks and sessions are for 1.5 or 2 hours. There are minimum ages for children
of 3 years, 5 years, 6 years and 7 years depending on the nature of the course
and the H & S aspects.
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A variety of WFL Early Years 2- 5 years courses
WFL Early Years courses are for parents and their children to learn together
for all sessions and are usually delivered in the morning or the afternoon for 1.5
or 2 hours for between 3- 5 weeks.
Progression:
We strongly promote the progression of adult learners from WFL courses onto
Family Learning English, Maths or Language courses and welcome your support
with this strategy.
Unfortunately, there is no funding available for WFL crèche provision. However,
all resources are provided by the Family Learning department.
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How to Request Family Learning
Please complete the attached Family & Community Learning Offer and email the
request to Jacqui Stephens at the email address below:
jacqui.stephens@hounslow.gov.uk
Tel: 020 8583 6083
It may be useful to discuss your needs with Jacqui who will be able to support
you with your questions regarding Family Learning & Community Learning before
submitting the final request.
It is also important for us to have a designated contact within the school who will
be dealing with the family learning and community learning offer. Please make
sure that you specify who this person will be by indicating this clearly at the top of
the Family Learning Offer form.
The School Commitment
All schools that undertake a Family Learning and/or a Community Learning
course will be required to commit to the following:
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Recruit and enrol families on our Enrolment Forms before the courses start
– you may wish to enlist the support of your Parent Support Adviser (PSA)
to assist with this
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Support with learner retention (for FEML - minimum 8 learners needed to
keep the course viable; for Family ICT, WFL & Early Years Let’s Get
Started courses – minimum of 4 families, Community Learning 8 adult
learners)
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Designate a link teacher for Family Learning staff to work with
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Commit to running the course and demonstrate a positive approach to
Family & Community Learning
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Provide a crèche facility (if possible) to maximise learner participation
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Provide appropriate space and furniture for both adults and children (adults
in the case of KUWTC & Community Learning). For health and safety
reasons adults should be provided with adult chairs.
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Provide a secure place for the tutor’s course files to be kept at the school
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Allow HACE business support staff and managers access to the tutor’s
course file for audit purposes
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Allow managers access for classroom support visits and observation of
teaching and learning
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Complete Partner Feedback about the course.
Our Commitment to You
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Provide support and advice at the initial setting up of the programme
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Provide and pay for suitable qualified teaching staff
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Manage the funding allocation of the programme and provide the
school/children’s with information about how to claim for payment of crèche
workers for Family Maths, English and Language courses
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Liaise and feedback regularly to school staff
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Undertake monitoring visits to support the management of the provision and
to monitor the quality of the teaching and learning
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For Family Maths, English and Language courses – to meet regularly with
school staff to monitor progress and to discuss progression opportunities
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Lead the initial meeting with a member of the school’s SMT or designated
family & community learning lead
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Provide an end of programme review report