How cultural organisations in Gwynedd encouraged families’ involvement in their children's education.
The Family Learning Signature is a tool designed to help education authorities to improve attainment, attendance and behaviour, particularly with hard to reach families and disengaged learners. Family Learning Signature data is used to identify future disengaged learners and families at an early stage and the types of intervention likely to be effective.
It is currently being used by schools, local authorities and third sector organisations working with vulnerable young people and families across the UK to improve attendance, behaviour and attainment, reducing exclusions and preventing young people from disengaging from education. It is already used in all schools in the Gwynedd CF cluster.
Following the formation of the Pioneer Area, co-ordinated by the local authority, the local CF cluster identified that it was seeking to deepen engagement with the Signature to have more of a lasting impact, but that it had struggled to find engaging and exciting activities for young people and their families. An opportunity to link in Gwynedd’s rich history and culture was identified and eight cultural bodies agreed to collaborate to support the CF cluster in implementing the Signature by developing culture-based interventions targeting families.
Gwynedd Archives, Gwynedd Library, Gwynedd Museum, Cadw, the National Slate Museum, Galeri, Pontio and Literature Wales provided interventions in January and February 2016 following development and training. 69 families took part, with 31 family learning sessions delivered. Of those who took part, 84% of families were inspired to participate in new activities, and 98% felt more confident to support their child’s learning. The approach will be evaluated to identify impact on behaviour, engagement and attainment.
The central Pioneer Area funding has been used to secure workshops and training for the cultural bodies involved, ensuring each is working within a cohesive programme. Activities themselves are delivered from within existing resources by each partner organisation.