The Government has announced it is giving £9m to 41 councils to help parents get involved in their children’s education.
The funding will help local authorities, such as Birmingham City Council and Lancashire CC, run projects in disadvantaged areas to get parents involved in learning at home.
Some of the projects include helping parents use music and singing to encourage their children to speak and listen, and getting fathers and grandfathers to record stories and organise gardening activities.
The grants will also provide training for education staff working with disadvantaged families.
‘We know that parents are central to children’s well-being and that children’s experiences in their early years have a major impact on later life,’ said children’s minister, Beverley Hughes.
‘It is vital that children have a sound basis on which to learn and develop, as well as enjoy time with their parents.
‘These are targeted funds and we hope to see innovative work in reaching vulnerable parents in areas where they need support and encouragement to really get involved in their children’s development.’
Watch: Cadaema’s David Parrett on getting a grip on council estates
David Parrett, Director at Cadaema Consulting Services, talks to LocalGov about why councils lack basic data on their buildings and what they can do about it.
