Community Learning and Development (Scotland) Regulations 2013

Needs Assessment Rationale: Adult Learning Partnership

CLD Plan Reference Number / ALP-4
Identified Need / To break the cycles of poverty, inequality and poor outcomes which affect the lives of young people.
Written by / Jane Logue
Organisation / West Dunbartonshire Council
Date / October 2015
Introduction
Our first learning experiences are within the family, which means family learning has a crucial role in promoting lifelong learning. The UK national Learning and Skills Council (LSC) defines 'family programmes' as those which … aim to encourage family members to learn together. They are learning as or within a family. They should include opportunities for intergenerational learning and, wherever possible, lead both adults and children to pursue further learning.
Much of Family Learning is about educating the child, with parents being ‘partners in their children’s learning’ (Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006). In terms of the Statement of Ambition, Family learning is seen as an opportunity to provide: modelling for children and young people. Inter-generational learning has the power to create a more cohesive society through challenging stereotypes and valuing the experience of both young and older people. Although the emphasis may be on the child, through learning alongside each other or separately, learning also has an impact on the adult as an individual, allowing them to gain skills and increase their confidence.
The Scottish Government’s Child Poverty Strategy (2014-17) also cites employment as a route out of poverty and that: families containing adults with low qualifications limit the opportunity to gain employment and to progress to higher paid employment. In targeting learning within the context of the family, community learning and development can encourage family members on to a learning pathway which enables them to gain skills and qualifications, with a view breaking the cycles of poverty.
Data Source(s)
In West Dunbartonshire, there has been a decline in the number of births: In 2012 there were 1054 babies born in West Dunbartonshire, 550 males and 504 females. This represents a 0.9% drop in the number of births from the previous year (2014 Social and Economic Profile. While there is a decline in the number of children born, child poverty remains a concern:
· A boy living in the most deprived area of West Dunbartonshire can expect to live six and a half years less than a boy in the least deprived area.
· 2% of couples and 8% of lone parents cannot afford two pairs of shoes for each child.
· 12% of lone parents cannot afford celebrations with presents at special occasions.
· 26% of children in West Dunbartonshire are growing up in poverty
· In all wards 20% of children are growing up in poverty
· Around 2000 (14%) of children in West Dunbartonshire live in severe poverty.
· 12,300 children live in households dependent on out of work benefits or Child Tax Credits at more than the family element.
· At the age of 16 there is a 16% gap in attainment levels between the poorest pupils and their classmates
· 10% of the poorest young people become unemployed immediately after leaving school
In the ALP survey, learning to improve and enhance family life was the third most popular priority for learning at 64% of 54 responses.
At focus groups parents/carers felt that learning helped them support their children and that, with childcare being an issue, family learning was a good way for families to learn together.
Education Scotland published a paper: Family Learning in West Dunbartonshire, A Local Authority Case Study (2014) which describes the impact of Family Learning on parents as having increased their personal skills and also their confidence when dealing with situations within the family.
Local Information/Knowledge
Developing the skills of parents can be a way to improve the income of families; learning can also be a useful way of supporting parents and carers in their family life. This is reflected in the SOA , which has ‘Children and Families as one of the priorities and which focusses on ‘lifelong learning , both through community learning and development support and also through further education provision’. Two local outcomes of the SOA are pertinent to Family Learning: families are confident and equipped to support their children throughout childhood and Improved attainment and achievement through life long learning. Family Learning is included in Educational Services’ Parental Involvement Strategy (2011) and in CLD’s Family Learning Guidelines (2012).
In terms of learning to enhance Family Life, there is a variety of programmes in West Dunbartonshire, including the following:
· Educational Services run activities such as Save the Children’s Families and Schools Together (FAST) and the Incredible Years programmes.
· CL&D have provided ‘first steps’ projects for families such as Fit Families, FunFit and the Hungry Caterpillar, as well as history projects.
· In partnership with West College Scotland, CL&D also organise certificated Childcare and parenting courses aimed at parents and carers in schools.
· Libraries provide a range of family activities such as: Bookbug; Storytime; Baby Massage; Baby Yoga; and Mellow Bumps. They also stock resources aimed at families such as parenting books and Storysacks.
· Advice Service have organised Family Learning workshops in terms of budgeting and financial awareness.
· Y-Sort IT, a voluntary sector youth project run programmes aimed at supporting young parents.
Conclusion
West Dunbartonshire CPP recognises the importance of supporting families to become more confident and to take part in lifelong learning. Family Learning can be an important vehicle for adult learning, as becoming a parent/carer is a key life transition and is therefore a catalyst for developing new skills. As such, ALP has prioritised the following activities:
· To work together to ensure that West Dunbartonshire parents/carers are involved in their children's learning and are given learning opportunities that will help them support their child's learning and development
· To engender a positive culture of lifelong learning in West Dunbartonshire by taking a coordinated approach to providing family learning activities
· To work together to ensure that West Dunbartonshire parents/carers are involved in their children's learning and are given learning opportunities that will help them support their child's learning and development
· To engender a positive culture of lifelong learning in West Dunbartonshire by taking a coordinated approach to providing family learning activities
· To work together to ensure that West Dunbartonshire parents/carers are involved in their children's learning and are given learning opportunities that will help them support their child's learning and development
· To engender a positive culture of lifelong learning in West Dunbartonshire by taking a coordinated approach to providing family learning activities
· To work together to ensure that West Dunbartonshire parents/carers are involved in their children's learning and are given learning opportunities that will help them support their child's learning and developmentTo work together to ensure that West Dunbartonshire parents/carers are involved in their children’s learning and are given learning opportunities that will help them support their child’s learning and development;
· To engender a positive culture of lifelong learning in West Dunbartonshire by taking a coordinated approach to providing family learning activities.

Needs Assessment Rationale: Adult Learning Partnership