SHARE Initiative

Who is running it?

This is a joint initiative being developed between Family learning partnership and the EAZ under Sp20, working with parents. Ten schools are involved in the pilot project, six of which are EAZ schools, and 4 non EAZ.

What does SHARE offer?

It is a national project managed by CEDC, who work in partnership with LEA's and EAZ's to offer the programmed in Infant/Primary Schools. It is a programme, which seeks to make an important contribution to the quality of parents involvement in their child's learning as a positive influence on improving children's educational attainments.

How does it work?

Parents of year ½ children are invited into school to join sessions on a weekly basis. The sessions follow activities from three Sharebooks, which are structured around complementing classroom teaching of English and Maths. The emphasis is on shared learning experience rather than specific tasks. Parents are then encouraged to use these activities with their children at home to support their childs' learning.

There is also an accreditation system, which runs alongside the programme, so that parents wishing to receive an award for their participation and work. Parents wishing to be considered for this need to keep a record of their materials and learning so that it can be assessed on the completion of a certain amount of units. Activities would include showing clear understanding of how children learn and develop, to designing a game to play on a theme from a SHARE book.

The role of the teacher

The KS1 ½ year teacher undertakes a 2 ½ day training course provided by CEDC, this then equips them to deliver sessions to parents (Maximum of 15 at any one time). The teacher's commitment is therefore to facilitate the initial and subsequent parent meetings, ensure parents receive guidance on how they can receive accreditation process and work closely with the project co-ordinators for monitoring purposes and quality assurance.

When will it happen?

Joint funding has been agreed to finance 18 sessions commencing in the Summer Term 2001 and running through until Spring 2002. The funding also includes:

• Supply teacher costs for the Summer and Autumn Terms, but reducing in the Spring term.
• Parent Packs (incorporating 3 x Sharebooks) for the participating schools to run a group with a maximum of 15 parents.

How will it be managed?

Carol McKusker, Family Learning Co-ordinator will develop and support the accreditation scheme.

Chris Wake and Carol will support the participating schools with the recruitment, delivery and monitoring of the pilot programme.

Chris and Carol will take the 2 day approved trainers course in April. This will allow training to be delivered to other schools/teaching staff at a future date providing interest and funding is available.

Contact:

Carol McKusker on 01952 202948

Chris Wake on 01952 502393