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We are a team of  5.4 Family Learning Officers and a Learning Services Coordinator employed by Glasgow Life and based with Glasgow City Council Education Services. Our team are a key strand in Glasgow’s Improvement Challenge; we work closely with a Quality Improvement Officer to help close the ‘poverty related attainment gap’ by building school and nursery staff capacity to develop and deliver a sustainable family learning offer in their establishments. This is because research shows that Parental Engagement in their child’s learning has a bigger influence on attainment than any other social, economic and family background factor.

Education Scotland define Family Learning as ‘a powerful method of engagement and learning which can foster positive attitudes towards life-long learning, promote socio-economic resilience and challenge educational disadvantage’. It recognises the role of the parent as the first educator and supports parents/carers to be better able to support their child’s learning and development.

Working across Early Years and Primary, our team offers resources, training and coaching activities that will enable schools and nurseries to develop effective parental engagement strategies, improve the range and quality of their family learning programmes, increase parental learning and volunteering opportunities, and develop strong partnerships that support quality and sustainability.

To find out more about our work and for details of activity in your area contact:

kathryn.farrow@glasgow.gov.uk (Quality Improvement Officer Education Services)

laura.kennedy@glasgowlife.org.uk (Learning Services Coordinator Glasgow Life)

You can also click on to our sketch note to download a handy summary of the work of our team.

Over the last year we have been rolling out our hugely popular refreshed Play Along Maths programme and were delighted to fund purchase of kits for 56 Early Years establishments and 65 Primary Schools. Citywide feedback has reinforced its effectiveness as a family learning programme for early and first level numeracy. Recent staff feedback includes ‘We love this project. Parents and carers being in our service really does benefit everyone involved. Relationships, conversation and the excitement of children choosing alongside their parent/carer is invaluable’  CDO,  Green Trees Nursery.  ‘This was the highlight of my year. Using Play Along Maths as a vehicle of connectivity between the school and our parents was invaluable’ Principal Teacher, St Vincent’s Primary School.

We have also been working with our colleagues from Kingspark Learning Community, Cleeves Primary/Burnbrae Children’s Centre, and St Patrick’s Primary to gather some of the inspirational practice which is taking place in the area of Family Centred Transitions from Early Years to Primary across the city. We held two hugely popular sharing practice events during February 2024 with 81 staff participants.  Feedback from the events included ‘Thankyou for this. By far the most useful training I’ve been on in some time’,  Teacher, Aultmore Park Primary School.

Another key development for us over the last year has been our Primary and Early Years FLAGS (Family Learning Action Groups). These termly meetings provide an opportunity for all Early Years and Primary staff involved in family learning to share good practice and build collegial relationships. Each meeting is themed around the needs of members, and over the last year we have covered topics such as Family ESOL, Family Learning for P4-7, Family Support, and Funding Opportunities. Feedback from members include

‘These sessions always give me a feel-good factor, I leave feeling supported and energised’, Primary Teacher, Sandwood Primary.   If you would like to be added to the mailing list for our Primary or Early Years FLAGs please contact laura.kennedy@glasgowlife.org.uk.