Newcastle City Council

Family Learning gives you the chance to learn new skills and help your child to learn in a fun and friendly way. Opportunities are open to parents, grandparents, guardians and carers and we would particularly welcome fathers to join us on our programme.

Learn how to help your child learn and you will be learning too. We offer a whole range of programmes in schools, libraries, community centres and other community venues in Newcastle.

Family Learning Workshops and Introductory Sessions (2-3 hours)
Offering opportunities for new learners to try new activities and develop new skills:

• Family Crafts/Healthy Eating/Drama/ICT - mini versions of Introductory Courses
• Family Literacy/Numeracy/Play and Language - mini versions of Family Literacy/Numeracy courses with parents and children.

Family Learning Introductory Courses (9-12 hours over 3-6 weeks)
In a range of subjects including:

• Play and language
• Keeping up with the children
• Supporting bilingual parents
• Family e-learning
• Family crafts
• ICT
• Healthy eating
• Digital photography
• Drama
• Share courses
• SATs awareness for parents
• Pots of gold
• Family football

Family Literacy and Numeracy Courses
Raising standards of literacy and numeracy for both children and parents.

Family Literacy/Numeracy (30 and 60 hours)
Can you spend one day each week in your child’s school? On our 60 hour courses you will work with a tutor in the morning to develop new ways to help children learn. Your child will work in a small group with the class teacher. During the afternoon you and your child will work together on fun activities. You will be supported by the class teacher and the family learning tutor. Our 30 hour courses are as above but are either offered over 5 full days or 10 sessions.

Early Start/Playing with Language (30 hours)
As above but to enhance language development and interaction between parents/carers and their babies and young children.

Family Literacy for Bilingual Families (30 hours)
These courses are designed for bilingual families and support their child’s education and parents’ own learning.

What’s New in Family Learning?
In Newcastle we received some extra money to do research on family finance and we are setting up introductory courses for parents called ‘Pots of Gold’. The courses are designed to help you deal with everyday budgeting and money matters and will be available in Children’s Centres.

Family Learning Programme
Find out more about courses we are delivering in a school near you (pdf, 96.3 kb, opens in a new window).

Please note courses in schools are only available if you are a parent/carer/grandparent of a child who attends the school. For more information please contact the Family Learning Office on 0191 298 6962.

Contact Details
To find out more about Family Learning in Newcastle, contact:

• your local school
• Family Learning - phone 0191 298 6962
• Newcastle City Learning - phone 0800 073 0911
• your local library.