Learners' Zone

Benefits for Parents

As a first time mother, the literacy and numeracy course has benefited me greatly. When my son started Catchgate Primary School, I was given the opportunity to join the course along with other parents. We had an initial meeting with the course tutor from the local educational office, Mr Joel, our headmaster, and Mrs Duggan, the reception class teacher. We were given a talk about the course and how it would benefit our children and ourselves.

When the course started we introduced ourselves to one another. Not only mothers attended the course, fathers and grandparents also attended. It was nice to meet other parents at the school as my son did not attend the Nursery so I knew no other parents here. This was an opportunity for me to get to know them and learn about the school and its teachers.

We learned how our children are taught in school and how we could help them at home. The way children are taught to read and write is different now from the way we were taught.

We made games for the children to help them with their basic numeracy skills and did activities with them to help with their writing skills, some using printouts of letters. Playing games with the children helps them learn without realising they are learning. They learn to take turns, follow simple rules, to listen and to concentrate.

The course not only helped the children, it also helped the parents as well to brush up on their literacy and numeracy skills. In past courses, some parents have gone on to become classroom assistants and teachers and, in other cases, helped the parents at work to get ahead.

In itself the course is also a time for other parents to help one another. Issues come up about everyday life and very often discussions arise about how we could help, advise or resolve any problems, whether they relate to school or home life.

The children love to see their parents at school and love the joint sessions. It also gives the opportunity to see how well our children are doing at school.

Benefits for Children

The mothers and fathers started the course at the start of a new term in a new school in September. This was also the children’s first time in the 'big school'. They were all around four years old.

Part of the time the children joined us in the library to do some work we had already prepared. This helped them to form good relationships with their fellow pupils and other adults but it was done in such a way that it was more fun than work.

The children gained a lot. By being given this extra time and attention they developed more skills in the areas of listening, speaking and reading. They also gained extra confidence.

The children had many happy times. We played games, sang songs and even went on a visit to the local library, playing an 'I Spy' game along the way! It was lots of fun and the children know that there is always someone to help them during their school years, be it a teacher, grandparent, parent or even brothers or sisters.