Issue - meetings

The Board received a report from the Strategic Director – Enterprise, Community and Resources, which provided an overview of the provision of family learning within Children’s Centres and Primary Schools across Halton.  They welcomed the Divisional Manager – Employment, Learning and Skills who delivered an accompanying presentation to Members.

Members were advised that Halton’s Employment, Learning and Skills Division delivered a range of adult learning programmes within Primary Schools and Children’s Centres across the Borough linked to supporting the aims and objectives of the TALK Halton project and the Halton Reading Strategy.

In response to Member’s queries/comments, the following additional information was provided:

·       There were children from the troubled families programme accessing the family learning services mainly from the children’s centres;

·       Some parents were unaware of the service and some perhaps felt intimidated to ask for help.  Marketing of the Family Learning Programme was carried out via leaflets and emails in children’s centres and schools, staff also identified need where possible and often spoke to parents in the playground;

·       Staff would carry out a data capture exercise in relation to numbers of troubled families taking part in Family Learning;

·       Adult learning provision was free to anyone where the household income was below £17,400;

·       The number of schools offering the service had increased over the last couple of years with nearly all primary schools now accessing the service; and

·       The staff who delivered the service were qualified primary school teachers.

It was noted that the funding for the Family Learning provision in schools  and notice of further funding would be available soon.  Family Learning in children’s centres was grant funded by the Department for Education and was due to end in June 2020 with no alternative funding yet made available.

RESOLVED:  That the presentation be received.