Family Learning & Active Citizenship Isai - Romania January 2007 Mary Flanagan Amanda O’Connor

History of FL in Co. Clare  Pilot project in 1994 in response to requests from parents  Funding 1994 – Year of the family  Funding EU Horizon project  Resource Pack developed & published in 2000  FL training for Adult Literacy tutors outside Clare

Family Learning Resource Pack  Resource guide  6 Parent workbooks  Jason’s Day storybook  Photopack  Poster  Also available in Irish

Courses 2006  Family Learning 0-7  Children Learning 7-12 years  Settling into Secondary School  Family Maths  FL & Primary School Curriculum  Family Learning and Play  ITC and Family Learning  Culturally appropriate FL  Themed sessions: Cookery, Crafts, Horticulture  FETAC Modules  Family Learning and Irish

Focus of the courses Which encourage parents to recognise the home as a learning place and build on their skills as teachers Diversity of programmes Trained facilitators Fun Positive learning environments Through

Tutor Training  Run training days to upskill FL and Adult Literacy tutors locally & nationally  Run workshops for NALA nationally  National resource for tutors offering Family Learning accredited modules  Delivered FL module on degree course with NALA/WIT

Irish Family Literacy - wider educational context  HSCL – The scheme ‘seeks to develop the parent as prime educator’ and places emphasis on the effectiveness of partnership between home and school based on principles of equality’ (Conaty 2002)  Early Start Pre-School Pilot Project – an element of the grant is set aside for developing parental involvement

Active Citizenship in Clare  Active Citizenship Voter Education Programme developed by Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice  Literacy tutors trained in 2004 & 2006  Classes run countywide since 2004  Voter registration campaign October 2006