Work produced by families during Family Learning Week 2005. Collage of children's drawings.
Family learning
What is family learning?
Families provide our first steps into society and teach us about the most essential things in life. The values, attitudes and culture that we learn from our families form the building blocks of our lives. The knowledge we acquire from school is always given a context by the family. For example, history textbooks to children can seem sterile but a grandparent's stories of past experiences and culture can bring it to life.
Family support is paramount to a child's formal education. Family learning can build the confidence of family members of all ages and even help overcome difficulties associated with a disadvantaged background. Family learning schemes are often a chance for parents/carers, and grandparents, to return to learning, involve themselves in their children’s learning and create opportunities to develop their own basic skills further.
Family learning aims to encourage all forms of informal and formal intergenerational learning and, wherever possible, lead both adults and children to enjoy and pursue further learning. 'Family' members are not restrictive and can include friends as well as family, reflecting the range of support relationships families rely upon today.
In this area you will be able to:
- Provide guidance for family learning programmes
- Rind out about the latest family learning news and events within the borough
- Read recent case studies of local provision
- Find links to related organisations
- Download session plans and resources.
More information on family learning
If you would like to find out more about family learning, please get in touch.