Future Creative supports National Family Week
28 May 2010
Parents as Partners in Early Learning (PPEL)- Story Sacks from Future Creative on Vimeo.
31st May- 6th June 2010 is National Family Week (http://www.nationalfamilyweek.co.uk). At Future Creative we understand the importance of family and the vital role parents play in the well-being and educational development of their children. In the spring / summer 2008, Future Creative was commissioned to design and deliver a programme to engage parents with their children’s learning and development through the ‘Parents as Partners in Early Learning’ (PPEL) initiative.
Through the process of creating individual story sacks for each child, the parents involved, supported by Future Creative partners, developed their skills and confidence to consciously challenge and further support their child’s development. The parents achieved this through engaging their children in everyday routines using the art of storytelling to explore and enhance their child’s emotional development.
The success of the PPEL programme has been dramatic. For parents directly involved in the project, there have been many long-lasting benefits as they have become more aware of the key role they play in supporting their child’s development. Evaluative evidence revealed that the programme had significant impact on the parent and child relationship; the experience has literally changed lives for the majority of participants involved. Out of the 40 parents that attended the PPEL Sensory Journey in 2009/10:
• 19 have re-entered employment
• 25 have attended further training to raise their levels and knowledge in literacy and numeracy
• 4 parents have opened their own business
• 3 have become childminders
• 5 now work in their children’s local schools
For more information about the PPEL programme and other Early Years initiatives please contact Ruth at ruth.barnard@future-creative.org.