Family learning programmes

Family literacy, language and numeracy programmes

‘For some families, issues with numeracy, literacy or other basic skills can act as barriers to parents supporting their children’s learning . . . Family learning programmes have been shown to deliver lasting improvements in literacy, numeracy and language skills in both children and their parents. They also boost parents’ involvement in their children’s learning, encourage parents to go on to further training and can re-connect them with schools they might previously have been wary of.’

(Every Parent Matters, 2007)

FLLN programmes are run across England to offer parents, carers and children the chance to improve their literacy, language and numeracy skills in safe, welcoming environments.

The Quality Improvement Agency has launched a new suite of programmes to support the extension, reach and quality of these FLLN programmes. The Alliance for Lifelong Learning* and the National Research and Development Centre (NRDC) have been commissioned to take this work forward on behalf of QIA.

*The Alliance for Lifelong Learning is a collaboration between NIACE, the Basic Skills Agency at NIACE and Tribal.

‘There are clear links between skills and wider social outcomes such as health, crime and social cohesion. Skills have important impacts on financial capability, helping households to manage the family finances and family life, enabling parents to help their children with their homework.’

(Leitch report, 2007)