Key Connections
Learning for families
in
Wrexham settings
Key Connections aims:
to engage disengaged families with their children’s
learning
to raise personal aspirations
to raise families’ aspirations for their children
to break entrenched cycles of intergenerational
non -participation in learning training and work
Key Connections objectives:
welcome families into school
give families positive learning experiences
to develop self esteem and confidence
provide a structure that will encourage families to
take ownership of their own learning
provide a learning community for all engaged in
school life
The Need For Change!
Evaluation of the recommended BSC
8-10 hr Family Learning, Lap and Nap
courses indicated that:
recruitment of the target group was
difficult / impossible
provision was short
it was withdrawn at the very moment
participants were beginning to engage
THE PROCESS:Families identify skills or activities they wish
to develop.
These become Group Learning Targets.
Evidence of work is accumulated then
submitted for individual OCN basic skills
qualifications as and when appropriate.
This system is far less threatening and does
not involve basic skills testing which was an
significant barrier for many.
WISH LIST
Ideas to help
your child at
home
(cost little)
School and
your children
Management/
behaviour issues
at home
Learning for
yourself
Recreation and
leisure for
yourself
homework
home safety
nail decoration
kite making
how reading
is taught
puppets
all ages
spelling games
all ages
intro to
Welsh for
children
role of the
governors
bedtime
family fitness
make-up
temper tantrums
computers
hair care
garden games
sex education
eating
maths today
family cookery
routines and
boundaries
dev speaking and
listening skills
family diet
healthy
eating
grow your
own food
glass painting
sex education
genealogy family tree
card making
book making
all ages
accessing free
local activities
maths today
number games
for all ages
getting extra
help
bullying
face painting
Numbers to date
School based groups currently support 157 families
The average group size is 13
The community based group for families caring for
ALN / SLCD children has been contacted by 185
families.
The average group size here is 18-24
To meet demand a similar group is due to start in
Ruabon High School in May 09
Current provision
Self funded programmes now run in:
Ysgol Heulfan
St Giles CP
Acrefair
Llay CP
Rhosymedre
Chirk Infants
Full or Partial BSC funding
supports programmes in:
St Mary’s School in Brymbo
Brynteg CP
Gwenfro CP
Gwersyllt CP
Community Focussed Schools
support 2 pilot projects in :
Ysgol Grango – 1st high school
Ysgol Min-y-Ddol – Welsh medium
and
Ysgol Cefn Mawr – English medium
1st shared provision
Prevention and Inclusion
support 3 specialist groups
Group Portugal – EAL
Talk for Talk x 2– Additional Learning Needs
Youth Justice Service
(currently staff training and support.
Establishing a family work is the long term goal)
Why should Schools
participate?
School Effectiveness Framework –
“If schools are to deliver effectively for children and young people
they need to work with other schools, parents and the local community”
“Schools are essential partners with other service providers..”
“ Opening doors to a full life....”
Basic Skills Primary Quality Mark – Element 9
Involving Parents and provide opportunities to become involved with the Basic
Skills at home
Estyn Common Inspection Framework –
Key Question 3
“...the school ensures that learners needs and interests are enriched
by effective partnerships with parents, the local community and other
Schools.”
Activities fulfil CYPP by supporting
a family’s
Learning and achievement
need to be healthy lead an active lifestyle and
sense of wellbeing
sense of personal and community safety
opportunities to participate enjoy and feel their
contributions to school life are valued
The Parents’ Views
I’m learning
things I never
thought I would
Really good,
never thought
I’d like coming
into school
We have
enjoyed playing
the games we
made
It is good to get
together to
share skills
A great
opportunity to
relax have a lot
of fun
This is giving
me the
confidence to
think about
going back to
work
I feel more
confident and
can help my
children more
Hopes for the Future
Key Connections groups to become
embedded into all Wrexham schools in order to:
fulfil the requirements as highlighted in the CYPP
and the School Effectiveness Framework
documents
raise parents’ aspirations for themselves and their
children and
improve pupil attendance, performance and
behaviour
Barrier to Development
- capacity
As Key Connections grows, it will require
extra facilitators to cope with the
increasing demand for:
basic skills teaching
monitoring
evaluating and
developing further links with the
community
Key Connections has:
proved to be cost effective
successfully engaged and retained
previously disengaged families
enabled schools to fulfil WAG targets
regarding working with families and has
made many links with the wider community
To date
national interest in the Key Connections model
cited as best practice by BSC and Estyn
replicated in Flintshire and Gwynedd with
joint staff training days
waiting list of schools ready to join the project
Key Connections
needs support at strategic level to enable
Wrexham to maintain its place amongst
the best in Wales for innovative work with
disengaged families