1B: What is ‘success’ in learner achievement?

 

‘It has given me a lot of confidence. I wouldn’t have got where I am today as a Special Constable.

‘I started off doing family literacy and numeracy to find out what the children are doing in their classes and then to help them. From that I went on to doing classes for me.

‘At school I always had problems with English and maths. [The tutor] asked me if I would like to take a test to see if I am dyslexic. I had wanted to join the police force when I left school but failed the test for the regulars and went into catering.

‘After I was told I am dyslexic I was able to have 25 per cent more time and I passed to be a Special Constable a few months ago. I am happy with myself and have more confidence but I want to go on steadily working up the English, maths and computer courses. I was never talkative in groups or able to speak out, but now I am a parent governor.’

After attending ‘Together Into Reading’ with her child, Brenda became interested in improving her own literacy. She gained national accreditation and has undertaken training to become an adult tutor. She is now working with other parents as a tutor on ‘Footsteps into Books’, a programme that encourages parents to introduce books to babies.

Bert is a grandfather who attended a family history weekend at the Museum of Road Transport with his grandchildren. He had worked in the car industry and enjoyed sharing his experience with young people. Using a computer, he was able to record his own personal history for an article in a newspaper. He gained computer skills as well as improving his literacy skills.

Eileen’s 12-year-old son was not attending school, was at risk of offending and was becoming increasingly violent towards her. A family learning worker with the Youth Offending Service encouraged her to attend a parenting programme. The strategies she learnt and applied resulted in her son attending school regularly and he also improved his literacy and numeracy skills. Eileen observes and records what factors are helping her son, and at the same time improves her own literacy skills.

Joanne joined a family numeracy course when she was recovering from severe depression. The enormity of understanding mathematical concepts had in the past often reduced her to tears. She was thrilled when after just one term she passed the national numeracy test.

Mary joined a Key Stage 3 family numeracy course in order to understand more about how maths is taught in secondary school and to enable her to help her son. She has found that the knowledge and skills she has gained have been useful to her in her job in an accounts department. She has now decided to take the national numeracy test, as she has no formal qualifications.

‘I had recently been awarded custody of my three daughters – Sarah (5), Jessica (8) and Rebecca (9), when my partner encouraged me to join a family literacy course starting at the local primary school. A new Family Learning Centre had just been completed at the school and this was the first family learning course to be run.

‘I wanted to help myself improve my reading and writing skills and find out how the children are taught. I never attended school and really struggled with spelling. My partner said she would also attend to support me and Sarah and also try and improve her own skills.

‘I’ve learnt things I’d never heard of, like homophones and blurbs and lots of other technical words that my children use. I now feel much more confident when my older girls talk about what they did at school. We wanted them to also enjoy family learning and would repeat activities we had done at school with Sarah, so that Jessica and Rebecca could join in. They have really enjoyed us going to school and the whole family would learn spellings together.

‘Sarah’s confidence has increased – she never stops talking. I have just sat the national test at Level 1 and so has Christine – we get our results in September. I will carry on with family learning and look forward to the next course. All parents should take the chance, if offered, it’s been good fun.’

Chris’s partner interrupted, ‘Did he tell you he now pinches my Take a Break magazine?’

Shive Pallan and Arran took part in a Fun for Fathers day at a local school. Shive says, ‘I like to take an interest in what the children are doing in school. I have done my studying since I left school and I am now a shift manager at a local food company. I was recently elected a parent governor. It helps me to see the school’s aspect, not just from a parent’s point of view. I want to use my skills to put things back into the community that helped me.’