Portsmouth parents go back to school to help their children with studies

As part of Aspirations Week, Meredith Infant School welcomed families to a maths lesson. The aim is to give parents the knowledge and confidence to help children with their studies.

The session was part of a five-week programme which also covers English, reading and arts and crafts sessions.

Jade Silvester, 34, who is now training to become a teaching assistant, said: ‘The sessions have been a massive help to enable me to support my children with their homework. Lessons are really different to when I was at school – the terminology has changed completely.

‘This just gives me more confidence to know what I’m teaching them is correct.’

Her daughter Hallie Belle, six, added: ‘It’s really fun when my mum comes in and she can help me with my work at school. I want to be a teacher when I grow up.’

Parent Emma Ferguson feels the sessions also help strengthen the relationship between the school and local families.

‘It really opens your mind and gives you an insight into the importance of school and what they’re trying to achieve,’ she said.

It’s a sentiment shared by Portsmouth City Council’s cabinet member for education, Councillor Suzy Horton.

Cllr Horton said: ‘As well as being able to support children with their learning it’s about parents having a positive view of schools and an understanding of what goes on.

‘Hopefully this will lead to a better understanding of the importance of education which in turn can increase aspirations within families.’

For some parents the Family Learning Course creates that initial spark which re-engages them with education.

Family Learning Programme lead, Sue Parkes, who runs the course, said: ‘We’ve a lot of examples of parents who come on the course who have their own aspirations reignited.

‘They decide to come on our functional skills courses at The Learning Place where they can get Level 2 qualifications in maths and English before going onto further education. There are a number of parents who are now teaching assistants, midwives and nurses.’

The family learning programme currently runs at schools across the city.