RTG News
Influence of providers on home learning - new research
20 Jul 2011
Campaign for Learning and the Family & Parenting Institute have published new research which identifies effective strategies in supporting children's learning at home.
Working with 12 local authorities, the research highlights that parents self-report an increase in home learning activities in the first six months after their child started in a funded childcare place. However, the research highlights that more effective help for parents can be achieved and with minimal resources, for example, through brief conversations at drop off and pick up times. Many practitioners feel they lack confidence to engage parents and the report points to a need to address staff awareness of the vital role of parents in home learning.
The report also points to the need for settings to specifically consider the needs of families where adults are unemployed. In these families engagement in home learning dropped once their child started childcare. Early years settings should target parents from households where adults are not in employment.
For more information please download the report here
This will be particularly interesting for Children's Centres taking part in the Government's payment by results trial which will focus on extending the reach of Children's Centres to families in the greatest need. See the Department for Education website for more information.
Targeting literacy support to the most vulnerable families is a key part of the National Literacy Trust's work with local authorities. Find out more here.
