The Dads Matter project at Coopers Lane Primary School in Lewisham was born out of a concern in the school about the lack of positive role models in the lives of many children, especially boys. Headteacher Steve Davies and family learning coordinator Tonia Pancucci describe some of the project’s current activities, integrating the motivational framework designed by Reading Champions.
The Dads Matter project at Coopers Lane Primary school in Lewisham has now been running for just over two years. We felt we needed to target dads specifically as some excellent family learning groups had been running for some time in school, but inevitably it was the mums who were attending. The presence of dads and other significant males in the playground at dropping-off times was minimal and there was a real lack of male input on homework tasks. A significant number of children in school had no positive male role models at home and there were only two male teachers in a staff of 24.
The Dads Matter group is crucial in engaging dads in their children's lives and learning and in the life of the school. We have a core group of dads who meet once a month in the local pub to discuss relevant issues, plan events, and feedback on homework activities. This year has seen the introduction of special workshop evenings for all dads, which have focused on specific areas of the curriculum, how we teach in school and how this work can be supported at home by dads and other male carers.
The impact of our work can be seen around school, where dads and male carers are now more visible dropping off and picking up their children. Dads have also been actively involved in regular weekly football training and running PE sessions. Displays of Dads Matter work and events are regular features around school, including a recent display in our new library where the dads have written about their favourite books.
Some members of the Dads Matter group were fortunate enough to visit the De Levensboom school in Belgium, where dads play a huge role in the life of the school. This trip proved a great stimulus to our work, and our early years unit has benefited in the shape of a wooden playhouse designed and built by our dads and modelled on those structures seen in the classrooms in Belgium. This play area offers a rich resource for our Reception children's language development: a great foundation for future literacy attainment.
It has not always been easy to link the Dads Matter group with our Reading Champions in school due to inevitable work commitments and time constraints; however, we have navigated our way around this problem with our 'Bring a Dad to School Week'. This very special week is currently an annual event where dads come and spend as much time as they can spare in school. Some dads opt to give special presentations based on their jobs and their hobbies – we have had interactive talks on printing, graphic design, cooking and diving to name but a few. Other dads, uncles and granddads opt to come and spend time with us in the classroom, to work with teachers and support the children’s learning. This gave many children the opportunity to read and write with some very positive male role models who were keen to talk about their own experiences at school and what they have gone on to achieve in their lives since.
The Dads Matter group has developed beyond all our expectations, yet we know there is still so much more to do. The group continues to evolve and grow and we are sure that the years to come will prove just as fascinating.
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