New scheme puts fun into family learning
PARENTS and children are being encouraged to learn together as part of a Halton Borough Council scheme aiming to inject some fun into education.
Participants at Widnes Academy found a ‘Bird Café Workshop’ a hoot, while a World Cup event on Tuesday, June 19, is hoping to prove to be a winner with families too.
Halton Borough Council said that the ‘Bird Café Workshop’ saw about 20 parents and their children taking part in activities including making bird feeders, making bird masks and identifying different types of birds.
This was followed with a two week ‘Fun with reading in reception and Key Stage One’ course, attended by six parents and their children with the intention of developing parents’ skills in terms of reading with their children.
On June 19, Halton Borough Council’s ● Councillor Tom McInerney is backing the scheme for parents and children Family Learning team will be running a ‘World Cup workshop’ for Reception and Key Stage One children and their parents at 13 primary schools in Runcorn and Widnes, including Widnes Academy, Halton Lodge, Spinney Avenue, Simms Cross and Astmoor.
Activities will include scoring as many ‘ping pong’ ball goals as possible in one minute, designing a football kit, making football players, boots, balls and trophies out of play dough, and making facts and flags for countries competing in the World Cup.
In May 2018 family learning tutors ran a two week ‘Fun with phonics in reception and Key Stage One’ course, with the school, attended by 11 parents and their children with the intention of developing parents’ knowledge and understanding of the current phonic curriculum in schools.
Other schools involved in family learning over the last academic year include: Fairfield Primary, Hallwood Park, Westfield, Victoria Road, The Brow, Runcorn All Saints, St Bede’s Infants, St Martin’s, St Mary’s, Hale Primary, Halebank, St John Fisher, The Holy Spirit and St Michael’s.
Widnes Academy, as a result of hosting these four events, will be awarded with Halton Borough Council’s first ever gold award for participating in four family learning events in one academic year.
From September 2018-19 schools that host two Family Learning courses in one academic year will receive a bronze award and those that host three a silver award.
The family learning team consist of two tutors: Jo Pritchard (English) and Sarah Wild (maths) who are both highly experienced former primary school teachers and are available free of charge to all schools in Halton.
They deliver courses including ‘fun with reading’, ‘fun with phonics’, ‘fun with numbers’, ‘online safety’ and ‘ youth mental health and wellbeing’ as well as one off ‘science workshops’.
Halton Borough Council’s executive board member for children, young people and families, Councillor Tom McInerney, said: “This kind of scheme is of great value to both children and families.
“We have had great feedback from participants.”
Any parents who are interested in attending a family learning course in school to help their child then they need to ask their child’s school to get in touch with the council’s family learning team.
They sould contact either Sarah. Wild@halton.gov.uk or Joanne. Pritchard@halton.gov.uk