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Key Connections. Learning for families in Wrexham settings. Key Connections aims:. to engage disengaged families with their children’s learning to raise personal aspirations to raise families’ aspirations for their children
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Key Connections Learning for families in Wrexham settings
Key Connections aims: to engage disengaged families with their children’s learning to raise personal aspirations to raise families’ aspirations for their children to break entrenched cycles of intergenerational non -participation in learning training and work
Key Connections objectives: welcome families into school give families positive learning experiences to develop self esteem and confidence provide a structure that will encourage families to take ownership of their own learning provide a learning community for all engaged in school life
The Need For Change! Evaluation of the recommended BSC 8-10 hr Family Learning, Lap and Nap courses indicated that: recruitment of the target group was difficult / impossible provision was short it was withdrawn at the very moment participants were beginning to engage
THE PROCESS:- Families identifyskills or activitiesthey wish to develop. These become Group LearningTargets. Evidenceof workis accumulated then submitted for individual OCN basic skills qualificationsas and whenappropriate. This system is far less threatening and does not involve basic skills testing which was an significant barrier for many.
Numbers to date School based groups currently support 157 families The average group size is 13 The community based group for families caring for ALN / SLCD children has been contacted by 185 families. The average group size here is 18-24 To meet demand a similar group is due to start in Ruabon High School in May 09
Current provisionSelf funded programmes now run in: Ysgol Heulfan Llay CP St Giles CP Rhosymedre Acrefair Chirk Infants
Full or Partial BSC funding supports programmes in: St Mary’s School in Brymbo Brynteg CP Gwenfro CP Gwersyllt CP
Community Focussed Schools support 2 pilot projects in : Ysgol Grango – 1st high school Ysgol Min-y-Ddol – Welsh medium and Ysgol Cefn Mawr – English medium 1st shared provision
Prevention and Inclusion support 3 specialist groups Group Portugal – EAL Talk for Talk x 2– Additional Learning Needs Youth Justice Service (currently staff training and support. Establishing a family work is the long term goal)
Why should Schools participate? School Effectiveness Framework – “If schools are to deliver effectively for children and young people they need to work with other schools, parents and the local community” “Schools are essential partners with other service providers..” “ Opening doors to a full life....” Basic Skills Primary Quality Mark– Element 9 Involving Parents and provide opportunities to become involved with the Basic Skills at home Estyn Common Inspection Framework – Key Question 3 “...the school ensures that learners needs and interests are enriched by effective partnerships with parents, the local community and other Schools.”
Activities fulfil CYPP by supporting a family’s Learning and achievement need to be healthy lead an active lifestyle andsense of wellbeing sense of personal and community safety opportunities to participateenjoy and feel their contributions to school life are valued
The Parents’ Views This is giving me the confidence to think about going back to work I’m learning things I never thought I would Really good, never thought I’d like coming into school We have enjoyed playing the games we made I feel more confident and can help my children more A great opportunity to relax have a lot of fun It is good to get together to share skills
Hopes for the Future Key Connections groups to become embedded into all Wrexham schools in order to: fulfil the requirements as highlighted in the CYPP and the School Effectiveness Framework documents raise parents’ aspirations for themselves and their children and improve pupil attendance, performance and behaviour
Barrier to Development- capacity As Key Connections grows, it will require extra facilitators to cope with the increasing demand for: basic skills teaching monitoring evaluatingand developing further links with the community
Key Connections has: proved to be cost effective successfully engaged and retained previously disengaged families enabled schools to fulfil WAG targets regarding working with families and has made many links with the wider community
To date national interest in the Key Connections model cited as best practice by BSC and Estyn replicated in Flintshire and Gwynedd with joint staff training days waiting list of schools ready to join the project
Key Connections needs support at strategic level to enable Wrexham to maintain its place amongst the best in Wales for innovative work with disengaged families