As part of the Further Education and Training (FET) Strategy 2014-2019, the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) was commissioned by SOLAS to complete a number of research projects, resulting in evidence-based guidelines on inclusion across the context of Family Literacy, Numeracy and the inclusion of people with Intellectual Disabilities in the Adult Literacy Service.
One project, Marking Progress, focused on research into family literacy, aiming to work collaboratively with interested ETBs to produce and share relevant case studies and resources.
About the Project
The resources are shared on the NALA project webpages, but as the project has ended and the webpages may be removed, the case studies and resources are being made available here with the permission of NALA and the Marking Progress Project.
A learning relationship with a local school leads to an innovative Irish language course for parents with Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (ETB).
Family learning in this context is very much a partnership between Kilkenny and Carlow ETB and a Kilkenny DEIS primary school. It is a holistic model with children, parents, the school, and the community all benefiting hugely from the collaboration between the school and the ETB.
Kilkenny and Carlow ETB: The Friday Group
Limerick and Clare ETB looked at a family learning context where parents were learning a vocational skill with literacy and numeracy and digital literacy integrated across the content. Read about their Family Learning approach here.
Limerick-and-Clare-ETB-Themed-Literacy
Tipperary ETB discusses ideas and tips for the ESOL and family learning classrooms on looking at fairY tales and folklore through an intercultural lens
Waterford and Wexford ETB have had great success in engaging with marginalised parents. While family learning is never wasted, there are priorities of need and ETBs often mention the difficulty in connecting with ‘reluctant’ adults whose prior learning experiences and present life circumstances keep learning low on their personal and family learning agenda.
Waterford-and-Wexford-Enaging-and-retaining-marginalised-parents
The Childhood Development Initiative (CDI) works to improve outcomes for children, families and communities in Tallaght and throughout Ireland
Doodle Families is a Family Literacy Programme aimed at children in First Class. It has been designed to be delivered in two components – one is for parents/guardians and the other is for children.
The Childhood Development Initiative use the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to actively engage parents and young children in reading together from birth to five years.
Stories and More was a five-week programme for parents, grandparents or others who care for children. Based on the Story Sacks model developed by Neil Griffiths, participants explore ways of enjoying books with children.
Read more about the project here
The Storytime Project is a collaborative family literacy project from The Marino Institute of Education, Dublin City Libraries and the Northside Partnership, Dublin.
A family literacy course themed around exploring and developing resilience in uncertain times.
