Family programmes - guidance

Family Literacy, Language and Numeracy: a guide for Children's Centres

Family Literacy, Language and Numeracy: a guide for Extended Schools
Department for Education and Skills, 2005

These two guides are resources for those working in Children's centres and schools, and thinking of setting up family literacy, language and numeracy (FLLN) provision. The two documents are almost the same as each other, and are suitable even for those with no prior knowledge of FLLN, with each covering:

• The background to FLLN and family programmes
• The context - how FLLN fits with services provided by Children's centres/extended schools, and the work of other agencies
• The need for FLLN and the evidence that it works
• Tips on recruiting parents
• The learning journey, from initial signposting to moving on and finding work
• Teaching qualifications
• Courses approved for Learning and Skills Council funding
• Resources

The documents emphasise that the argument for FLLN provision needs to be made at the local level, as part of a strategy for reaching the parents and children who will benefit most from it.

Delivering Skills for Life: Family Literacy, Language and Numeracy - A Guide for Policymakers
Department for Education and Skills, 2004

This guide for policymakers puts into context the much expanded family literacy, language and numeracy programmes (FLLN), which aim to address the intergenerational effect of poor literacy and to raise literacy standards across the generations. They come under the umbrella of family programmes, which are coordinated and funded by the local Learning and Skills Councils (LSCs). They are separate from family learning programmes, which have the more general aim of getting adults and children learning and of helping parents and carers learn how to support their children's learning.

According to the guide, most family literacy and numeracy programmes are delivered in schools, usually primary schools, and in conjunction with the local education authority (LEA). The 2004/05 allocation enables a local LSC to agree to part-fund an LEA post, similar to the Skills for Families consultants, to manage the programmes. The LSC suggests 5% (10% maximum) of the FLLN allocation should be used for this purpose. This year the LSC has taken a new approach to agreeing FLLN target numbers, now to be agreed between LSC/LEA partnerships, although national LSC reserves the right to challenge them if they are significantly lower than 2003/04. The guide lists the range of FLLN courses now funded by the LSC, including taster courses and workshops, introductory, short and intensive programmes. There are also some quotes from families who have benefited from these courses.

The guide can be downloaded from http://readingroom.lsc.gov.uk/ or ordered from DfES Publications on 0845 60 222 60, email dfes@prolog.uk.com, quoting reference FLLN.

Family Programmes: Guidance for Local Learning and Skills Councils and Local Education Authorities 2004/05
Learning and Skills Council, February 2004

Family Programmes cover two strands: family literacy, language numeracy (also known as FLLN) and wider family learning. Family provision is part of the adult and community learning budget offered by Learning and Skills Councils (LSCs) to local education authorities (LEAs) and should be included in the LEAs' Three-Year Development Plan.

Family learning programmes
These are specifically designed to enable adults and children to learn together, or to support parents and carers to learn how to support their children's learning. They may include elements of basic skills learning, but this should not be the prime focus. The guidance quotes the NIACE evaluation of LSC-funded family programmes, which recommends that family learning fits within a wider strategic framework. This framework should link with key national and local priorities, and involve a high level of partnership working with other organisations (for example schools, colleges and the voluntary sector) to engage learners, provide quality provision and to enable progression to other courses.

Family literacy, language and numeracy
These programmes are specifically aimed at helping parents improve these skills, to better equip them to help their children; the children are also helped to improve their skills. There are an expanded number of approved family literacy, language and numeracy courses for 2004/05. These include:

• taster courses of usually 2-4 hours, to attract a minimum of 85% new learners and include signposting into other learning provision
• introductory programmes of usually 9-13 hours, to attract primarily new learners. They include an assessment of parents' skill needs, and opportunities for them to develop their own skills and their ability to help their children
• short programmes of usually 30-49 hours, to provide progression from introductory courses. They include screening and diagnostic assessment to make sure the programme suits parents' needs, and opportunities to get qualifications through the Move On approach
• intensive programmes of usually 72-96 hours, to challenge and encourage learners to develop their skills. The aim is that 25% of parents will complete the national test in literacy or numeracy

Taster courses

• Play and language taster session for parents with few or no qualifications to talk to and play with their babies and toddlers, stressing the importance of play on early language development
• Family literacy workshop for parents with children aged 3+ to extend their skills in supporting their children's development, and to provide opportunities for parents to go on to further courses
• Family numeracy workshop (as above but centred on numeracy)
• Combined family literacy and numeracy workshop for parents with children aged 5+
• Keeping Up with the Children taster for parents and carers of school-age children, to explain the literacy and numeracy curriculum and how parents can get more involved (more)

Introductory programmes

• Play and language for parents and carers to help language development and positive interaction with their babies and toddlers
• Skills for Families Springboard for parents and carers only, to introduce them to local services and progression, including into family learning, voluntary work in schools, Children's Centres etc
• Keeping Up with the Children for parents and carers of school age children, to show how children are taught the daily literacy hour and maths lesson. The aim is for parents to become more confident in supporting their children, and to help parents develop their own literacy skills

Short programmes

• Early Start - Baby Talk 0-1 year; Small Talk 1-2 years; Talk Together 2-3 years to help parents and carers explore ways of playing, talking and listening to their children, in order to help develop their children's language and vocabulary, as well as the parents' literacy, language and numeracy skills (more)
• Playing with Language 3-5 years to help parents and carers develop their children's language skills and help prepare them for entry to school, and to provide opportunities for the adults to work towards the national literacy and numeracy tests
• Family Literacy for both parents and school-age children to extend parents' skills in supporting their children's developing literacy skills and to provide opportunities for parents to work towards an entry level qualification and/or national tests
• Family Numeracy (as above but centred on numeracy)
• Family Finance for parents and school-age children to develop financial literacy skills, with opportunities for parents and carers to work towards the national tests
• Keeping up with the Children+ for parents and carers only, to extend their skills in supporting their children and to provide opportunities to develop their own literacy or numeracy skills

Intensive programmes

• Family Literacy for parents and children, to extend parents' skills in supporting their children's developing literacy, and to provide opportunities for parents to achieve entry level qualifications and/or national literacy tests
• Family Numeracy (as above but centred on numeracy)
• Combined Family Literacy and/or Language and/or Numeracy (as above)

Link:
For more information download http://readingroom.lsc.gov.uk/