Members of the Ethnic Diversity Service work in partnership with the Continuing Education Service’s English for Speakers of Other Language (ESOL) team and Family Learning team to deliver language courses for minority ethnic parents/carers and their children in Stockport schools.
“Family literacy, language and numeracy programmes can raise achievement across generations. They can contribute to the Early Years, Primary, Key Stage 3 and Skills for Life strategies, as well a social inclusion.” Skills for Families ‘Extending the reach of programmes’ Basic Skills Agency.
Family Programmes
A number of literacy and language courses are run each year at different schools in Stockport. They are designed to enable minority ethnic families to learn together. Programmes vary from individual workshop sessions to longer courses spread over several weeks.
Bilingual support is provided in first language for those with basic English language skills. Crèche facilities are also provided for pre-school children. Parents work on developing English skills to enable them to support their children’s learning. They are encouraged to continue with further study leading to accreditation.
- Early Start-Baby Talk Play and Language For children aged 0-3 years
This course helps to enhance language development from birth. It looks at ways of playing, talking with and listening to children to assist early language development.
- Playing with Language For children aged 3-5 years
This course helps parents/carers understand, develop and use language interactions; improves parents' and carers' skills to help them prepare for their children’s entry and integration into school; and develops children’s speaking and listening skills.
- Family Literacy and Language For children aged 4-6 years
This course raises standards of literacy and language for both parents/carers and children. It extends the skills of parents/carers in supporting their children’s developing literacy and language skills.
- Keeping up with the children
For parents/carers only, courses are held in primary and secondary schools.
This course shows how parents/carers can become more involved in their children’s education by understanding the literacy, language and/ numeracy curriculum and improving their own skills.