From Margins to Mainstream - the increased importance of Family Learning

1. SLLP - Wednesday 7th July 2004 From Margins to Mainstream - the increased importance of Family Learning Linda Siegle Regional Director (South) Campaign for Learning lsiegle@cflearning.org.uk

2. Campaign for Learning We aim to stimulate learning that will sustain people for life . . .

3. About Us • National lifelong learning charity, core-funded by DfES via LSC + other charitable trusts, agencies, the lottery and business • Key themes: - Family Learning - Learning at Work - Learning to Learn - Museums & Young people (SW)

5. Only some learning happens in class !

6. Family LearningReaching Hearts and Minds Why would you put yourself in a situation where you’ve felt humiliated in the past? Family is a powerful motivator

7. The Big Picture: Families Under Stress “The problem is not only the normal economic pressures that families at most income levels are familiar with … it’s also the rapidity of social change”. • One third to one half of children will spend some time in a one-parent family (Social Trends 2001) • The DOH estimates that 4 million (out of 11 million children in UK) are at risk of ‘failing to meet normal developmental goals’ • Fathers in Britain work the longest hours in the EU (average is 48 hours p/week for those with children under 11)

8. The Good News • The average working mother spends more than twice as long reading and playing with her young children than mothers did in 1961. • Fathers who are working full-time now invest an average of 88 minutes a day in looking after their children; eight times more than they did in 1961. Institute of Economic and Social Research

9. Family Learning – Breaking Cycles “It is time to take Family Learning from the margins into the mainstream”. Ivan Lewis MP, Minister for Adult Skills, DfES, Family Learning Weekend launch October 2003

10. Family LearningHelping to ensure that every child is on the top table at home “The most important finding…is that parental involvement in the form of ‘at-home good parenting’ has a significant positive effect on children’s achievement and adjustment, even after all other factors shaping attainment have been taken out of the equation.” Charles Desforges and Alberto Abouchar, ‘The Impact of Parental Involvement, Parental Support and Family Education on Pupil Achievement and Adjustment: a Literature Review’, DfES report no 433, June 2003

11. Parental Involvement “High levels of parental expectation, consistent encouragement and actions to enhance learning opportunities in the home were all positively associated with students’ high aspirations and college enrolments – this regardless of students’ SES or ethnic background. Catsambis 2001 ” Detailed information- DfES documents: Ref: PICE/IPRA and Ref: LEA/0339/2003

12. Family Learning: Policy Shift Recently, there has been a fundamental policy shift in wider policy on families: • Minister for Children, Young People and Families (Margaret Hodge, DfES) • Publication of Every Child Matters, acknowledging importance of FL • Increasing recognition that schools must do more to engage with families and their communities through the Extended Schoolsinitiative

13. The Power of Family Learning • Raise levels of self-esteem and get people back into learning; • Improve achievement levels of children in school; • Improve skills levels of adults and help to meet the National Skills Strategy; • Regenerate communities; • … and even help cut youth offending

14. What does Family Learning involve? • Formal and informal learning within the family; • Family members learning together; • Learning about roles, relationships and responsibilities in relation to stages of family life, including parenting education; • Learning how to understand, take responsibility and make decisions in relation to wider society, in which the family is a foundation for citizenship; and • Learning how to deal with agencies that serve families Based on Riches Beyond Price, NIACE 1996

15. Family Learning can be ... • Formal initiatives - FLLN programmes, Wider Family Learning provision and Parenting Education programmes • Broader initiatives - Bookstart and Sure Start • Informal Family Learning opportunities - through television, the internet and the media, at museums, libraries, sports and leisure facilities, or through faith, community, family and voluntary groups and centres

16. Everyone wants to learn something! 5.28 million people watch Bargain Hunt

17. Expanded FL programme FL team expanded Improved links with Sure Start, Libraries & Early Years Integrated ICT into FL Maintained high attendance and retention Very good accreditation Good Basic Skills Agency report PALS project wins awards More and varied trips and visits in courses IAG services conducted progression sessions on courses Won 2003 ALW and Family Learning Weekend Awards Keeping Up With The Children pack introduced Chosen to Pilot ‘Skills for Families’ Family Learning in Croydon 2002 - 2003

18. The LLU+: Empowering Parents • Aim: Empower parents/carers by enabling them to support their child’s education • Wide range of accredited courses - although accreditation not compulsory - in a variety of settings and based on local interest and need. • A ‘training cycle’ - which can be entered at a number of points. A learner can enter the cycle as a student and leave as a trained teacher of parents. • Educational Book and Game-making - Helping My Child with Reading and Writing - Family Numeracy Project - Volunteers in the Primary Classroom - Peachers

19. ‘When your wings are broken and you don’t know where to go ...’ ‘Developing Language Skills with under 5’s was like a therapy course. At that time I was very fragile, very sensitive, not sure about how to bring up my children, I was very tearful’ Sawsan from Bagdad

20. Schools and Parents as Partners • Effective Partnerships with Parents (EPPa) • www.southgatepublishers.co.uk • Involving parents,raising achievement (DfES) • www.dfes.gov.uk

21. Family Finance as a ‘hook’ into learning According to Prudential’s Financial Literacy Survey, 6 out of 10 adults feel that their education did not sufficiently prepare them to deal with their personal finances. • A great way of not only helping families to understand ‘day to day’ finance - but to embed literacy and numeracy skills • NIACE and Prudential have launched a financial education website - www.moneymatterstome.co.uk • A free resource with a comprehensive set of materials, including interactive workshops, information and exercises • Aimed at adult tutors and adult learners - particularly women aged 25 - 50 and their families

22. If you want to really frighten a large section of the population - just use the word ‘maths’. Courses which use the terms ‘money matters’ or ‘getting the best out of your bank’ or ‘family finance’ present a much less threatening barrier to overcome.

23. A Partnership approach to Family Learning ‘tasters’ • ‘Family Funday Sunday’ - held at the University College Chichester and targeted local families. • Aim: Widen participation, break down the perceptions and mystique surrounding HE within the local community, and showcase learning opportunities • Partners: West Sussex Adult Education Service, UCC, Museums, Library Service, Leisure Centre, Music shop, Scout group, VT Careers Management West Sussex • Activities: ‘Magic of Science’ lecture, digital cameras and reporters group (local newspaper), picture-framing, French, Roman cooking • Progression: Partners had exhibition space and trained staff offered advice and guidance

24. Progression - you can’t do it on your own! • The ‘P’ word - partnership means telling other people/departments/agencies/tutors what you are doing or planning and encouraging them to tell you. • Engage those who can help with progression in the design of the course/taster/activity. • Define what ‘counts’ as progression. • Think laterally about your courses - ask people where they want to go next before you start. You may have to guess or articulate it for them!

25. Family Learning Initiatives and Support • Family Learning Week - 11th-17th October 2004 • Family Learning Network - Launched 1st April • Research, Family Learning Manifesto and support from the Campaign for Learning • Other organisations: National Family and Parenting Institute, Basic Skills Agency, Parenting Education and Support Forum, and many more ...

27. Resources available from CfL • Introductory leaflet • Planning Guide • Specialist e-guides (FL & shopping centres, schools, • museums, libraries, event planning, poster design) • Integrating Adult Basic Skills Guide • Family Activity Guide (for families to take home) • Stickers and other promo materials • Individual event promotion (through learndirect and web database) • Support and advice from the Regional Team • www.familylearningweek.com and 0870 350 2345

28. CfL’s research on marketing learning Young, old, excluded, hard to reach, men, women, mums &dads, majorities and minorities. We’ve asked them all over the years why they have been put off learning and what it would take to get them learning. Some of their answers and our conclusions are published here.

29. What we are aiming for: Family Learning Success Criteria • All families are able to engage in a range of formal and informal FL programmes which link coherently into wider services and learning provision • Schools, public agencies and vol orgs are supported to integrate FL into their practice • Children, young people, parents and grandparents in all social groups are ‘switched on’ to FL (ie they see it as something relevant to their lives and which can help them to achieve their potential) • FL supports positive families, vibrant communities and prosperous workplaces

30. Last week’s conference (report available shortly) Programme included: • Healthy Schools Standards • Promoting FL through Sport • Lighting the Olympic Learning Flame • Sex, Drugs and Family Learning • BBC Academy Parent • Premier League Reading Stars • Bowled Over with Family Learning • Reading the Game • Getting a better taste for Family Learning

31. Family Learning through Sport & Leisure • FLW events took place in football clubs, rugby clubs, sport and leisure centres, pleasure parks … and many more • Activities included: - How to repair your bike / skateboard - Street dance - Self defence for mothers - Pick n Mix Bat & Ball - Launch of FC Study Support Centre • Benefits included: - Raising awareness of local opportunities around health education & leisure; encourage community participation in a fun, non-threatening, exciting venue; practical opportunities

32. Learning influencers and outcomes health - diet - mortality- wellbeing - self esteem - belonging - leadership Healthy Living Citizenship FUN ! - racial harmony - reduced crime Fitness |(mental and physical) Schools Creative Partnerships/Arts British Sorts Trust Awards Life saving - First Aid Study Support Initiatives Local Authorities - Healthy Eating Sport England/Individual Sports Bodies Personal development industry Sports Clubs and Leisure Centres Learning to Learn DIY/Media Skills Social inclusion - hand and eye coordination - spacial awareness - caring - reduced truanting Team work Life Skills - respect - cooperation - patience - determination - goal setting - dealing with rejection, - disappointment and success - conflict resolution - - IT - literacy -numeracy -language Coaching and mentoring Personal DevelopmentconfidenceHobbies

33. Mens sana in corpore sano(A healthy mind in a healthy body)A few facts for couch potatoes • As well as keeping you generally healthier, physical exercise (especially aerobic) … • helps you relax and recall things • reduces stress by triggering endorphins • sends burst of oxygenated blood to the brain • arouses the nervous system generally • stimulates growth of dendrites and axons (Pasteur Institute) Literally - changes the state of your brain ! Bill Lucas - Power up Your Mind

35. National Family Learning Network – Supporting Family Learning Partnerships • Partnership venture between Campaign for Learning, NIACE and ContinYou • Set up in 2001 • Free support and information for Family Learning Practitioners • Central Government funding through the LSC since June 2003 • National Conferences • Free membership –5,900 existing members • Central resource for Family Learning being launched 1st April 2004 - www.familylearningnetwork.com • Ask Us facility • Contact Juliette Collier on 0121 643 0774

36. The Family Learning Network website

37. Support for Local and Regional Networks Development Phase during 2004 • Needs Analysis • Website launched • Questionnaires sent out to 8,400 practitioners • Building links with LLSCs • Detailed report to set out training and support needs on a region-by-region basis • Development of local network support

38. National Vision Depends on Local Partnerships and Networks • Why resolve issues in isolation? Build on the successful work of others • Widen participation through work with other agencies • Improve communication • Increase capacity • Create new opportunities • Offer choice and support to your learners • Create a supportive environment for practitioners

39. Strategies for Success • Be clear about your aims and objectives • Identify the WIIFM factors • Develop effective communication systems • Develop an infrastructure to provide local support for families and practitioners • Identify key tasks which will achieve the agreed aims and objectives

40. Proposed Focus of Training Package Proposal for 2004-2005 Free regional training sessions to assist local groups to: • Define their aims and objectives • Create a membership profile proforma • Strengthen links with their LLSC • Develop a recruitment strategy to broaden and increase membership • Develop effective communication systems

41. Proposed Training Package cont. • Develop an infrastructure to provide local support for family learning practitioners • Identify key tasks which will achieve the agreed aims and objectives • Create a family learning strategy for their area where one is not in place • Provide key contacts to link in to the National Family Learning Network