Mother and daughter writing in a classroom smiling.

Family Learning at The Magdalen Church of England / Methodist Primary School

For over 20 years, The Magdalen Church of England / Methodist Primary School has worked with Lincolnshire Adult Skills and Family Learning Service to provide Family Learning programmes. These programmes aim to enhance parents’ literacy skills and familiarise them with teaching methods used in school, enabling them to better support their child at home. 

How It All Started 

In 2001, the school introduced the Family Learning programme after recognising its potential benefits for families. With rising expectations on children and tight budgets, the support from parents has become pivotal for student success. The school decided to up-skill parents, particularly with the introduction of the SPAG (spelling, punctuation and grammar) paper, leading to a course on spelling, punctuation, and grammar for Key Stage 2 parents. 

Parents have reported that these sessions have become a part of their routine, providing a support network that extends beyond learning. They share tips on bedtime routines, refer each other to services, and offer mutual support. 

Year 1 Family English Course 

The Family Learning initiative began with the Year 1 Family English course and expanded to include programmes for reception children. These sessions provide parents with practical tools to support their child’s education.  

For the last 20 years, all parents and children in Year 1 have been invited to join the Family English course, which runs weekly for 10 weeks during the autumn and spring terms. The course covers essential topics such as speaking & listening, handwriting, phonics, and writing for different purposes. Adults work with a tutor in the first hour before joining their child in a lesson where they can actively support their learning.

To ensure maximum benefit, some families are specifically approached by the school, identified as those who would greatly benefit from this dedicated time together. The themed lessons make learning fun and practical, allowing parents to extend their child’s learning in an engaging way. Feedback from parents has been overwhelmingly positive, with many describing the sessions as both fun and informative.

“Fun with Phonics was a fun way to learn how to best support my child at home. This is by learning how phonics is taught in school, and fun ways to expand my child’s knowledge through games and activities. It was great learning ways to better engage my child into learning by doing it in fun ways that best suit her.” Parent feedback 

Reception Class Programmes 

For the past 10 years, Family Learning programmes have been offered to parents of reception class children during the summer term. These sessions emphasise learning through play and practical experience, preparing children for Key Stage 1. Examples of past programmes include: 

  • Recycle, Refashion, Re-Use: Learning to use junk materials to support learning. 
  • Family Fun with Food: Learning about healthy eating and growing vegetables. 
  • Family Fun Outdoors: Encouraging outdoor learning through activities like building dens and making mud pies. 
  • Be Happy, Be Healthy: Focussing on overall wellbeing and healthy lifestyles. 

For the latter, a recent session on healthy eating involved parents learning about nutritional values and then having a picnic with their children, which their children prepped, using only healthy food. This session alone has changed some parents’ shopping habits, with one parent reporting that they now take their child with them so that they can have a say on what is bought and what meals will be prepped that week. 

“Family learning has helped me as a parent want to engage more in my child’s learning, it’s helped me understand how she learns in the classroom. It’s also made our time together more special as we get to do fun activities together in family learning.” Parent feedback 

Anita Mills, Reception Teacher and EYFS Lead at The Magdalen Church of England / Methodist Primary School said: 

“Family Learning has been transformative for our school community. By actively involving parents in their child’s education, we have seen significant improvements in both student performance and parental engagement. The tailored, hands-on approach not only equips parents with the skills they need but also creates a supportive network that extends beyond the classroom. It’s truly rewarding to witness parents and children learning and growing together.” 

Future Plans 

Starting September, the school will introduce Read Write Inc, a new phonics approach, into their sessions to continue improving parental engagement and support. 

Get involved 

The Magdalen Primary School’s partnership with Lincolnshire Lincolnshire Adult Skills and Family Learning Service demonstrates the profound impact of family learning. By involving parents in their child’s education, schools can foster a supportive community, enhance parental skills, and ultimately improve student outcomes. Other schools in the Lincolnshire region are encouraged to adopt similar programmes to benefit from these significant advantages. Find out more here.