The literacy team members from Falkirk Children’s Services central support team are creating a suite of family learning materials for use by parents and carers across our local authority. These materials are written specifically for a parental audience and are designed to provide a series of fun learning tasks which families can do together at a time and in a way which suits them best. They are designed to be part of or to add to the learning grids and curriculum tasks which practitioners and schools provide for learners and their families. The materials (digital and paper-based) guide and support parents and carers through a structured learning process while leaving lots of room for children and their families to adapt the learning tasks to suit their home situation and the materials they have to hand.
The learning plan in each kit uses elements of the Storyline approach – key questions help children surface and extend their knowledge and suggested activities help progress literacy and other skills across learning. These skills are made explicit in the plan and opportunities for children and parents to evaluate or assess their work are planned in to the learning.
The five themes identified aim for increased engagement with learning by providing a loosely structured opportunity for families to learn together. The themes and plans will also aim to complement and address other challenges resulting from current school closures: feelings of isolation; building relationships; practising social skills; communication; developing personal interests within boundaries, etc. The plans are tailored to current restrictions, but offer productive, creative and safe ways for families to learn together indoors and out. The team hope that these are a valuable addition to the inspiring family learning experiences being developed and shared by settings across our authority. The themes identified so far are:
- Jack and the Beanstalk (this plan is developed from an early-first level storyline – see below for family learning pack files)
- Our Dream Holiday (Let’s take an imaginary family tour – developed from a second level Capital Tours storyline)
- Friendships and Relationships
- Getting in touch with nature and outdoors
- Let’s get sporty!
Each hub school will be provided with paper versions of each pack for families unable to access the digital link to the files. The regular Comms updates from Rhona Jay will provide the link to the digital and paper-based files so that schools can pass this link on or provide physical copies as desired. The pack will include guidance for parents, a copy of the stories and texts required and we hope to put together additional physical resources for families to use during their storyline experience. The practitioner version of the Jack in the Beanstalk storyline plan is also available for early years officers and teachers who want to use it as it is, or who may want to blend both plans to create a collaborative school/family learning experience. Click here to view the practitioner version of the plan.
These blog posts will have all of the files and links required for family use of each theme to enable parents to access the kits digitally – we hope this will reduce workload for practitioners and senior leaders – one link can be emailed to families, added to your school learning grid, or printed off as required.
Family Learning Pack 1 – Jack and the Beanstalk Files and Links:
Click here for the digital version of the plan – send this link to parents/pupils through your chosen communication method.
The print version of the plan – click here for the Introductory pack document with story, and click here for the plan file. A resources document will follow.
Please leave comments and feedback below or contact yvonne.mcblain@falkirk.gov.uk – your suggestions are always welcome.
Stay home and stay safe – best wishes from
Carol Turnbull, Yvonne Manning, Yvonne McBlain, Jude Davies, Louise Amos
