LLU+ London South Bank University

Family Learning in Prisons

Looking out…A prototype project funded by the Learning and Skills Council

• Began in October 2005 and funded until June 2006

• We worked with three prisons: one female, one male and one male resettlement

• To deliver a wide range of family learning programmes for offender client groups in prison and in the community

• Programmes aimed to enable parents / carers / guardians to learn how to support their children’s learning whilst developing their own language, literacy and numeracy skills

• The emphasis was on engaging families in learning through a variety of creative, non-threatening routes …

Key Objectives

HMP HollowayWomen’s Prisons

• Ran a series of half-day workshops on topics such as Helping Children with Reading; Individual Learning Styles; Dyslexia; Bilingualism in the Family

• Ran one day workshops on developing learning materials for children

• Ran family workshops on Saturday children’s days

HMP Latchmere HouseMen’s resettlement Prison

• Ran the accredited course Helping My Child with Reading twice

Making games

HMP PentonvilleMen’s Prison

• Ran Homework Club sessions for fathers and their children

• Pampering and advice for mothers and other carers

Homework Club

Main outcomes• Engaged a total of 84 learners in prison or on

probation in learning activities; 10 visiting mothers; two visiting grandparents; provided 111 learning opportunities for children

• Worked with 3 prisons and the probation service• 10 men presented portfolios for accreditation for

Helping My Child with Reading

Comments from evaluationsBuilding confidence and offenders’ role as

parent/carer/guardian

Education is the one positive in her (daughter) life at present and now I can be a part of it.Mother Holloway

It gives them quality time sitting down, doing something constructive. They take the stuff they have made to their rooms and they can look back and see they’ve done something as a family.Prison Officer Holloway

Support Children’s Learning and promote learning from each other

I have a better understanding (of child’s education) and a wish to be fully involved.

Father Latchmere

I’ve enjoyed making things, the drawing and stuff. I like working together with my mum it is fun. I would like to do my homework with my mum.

Child visitor Holloway

Focus on how children learn and apply this knowledge to themselves

I would like to find out if I am dyslexic and have a diagnostic assessment.

Grandfather Latchmere

It has renewed the enthusiasm for learning in my whole family.

Father Latchmere

Build and strengthen parent-child relationships

I would like to make things every time I come and see mum. It’s nice to be able to do something creative with my mum. It makes us closer to each other sharing this time.

Child visitor Holloway

It has been great as it has enabled us to keep a strong relationship. The experience has been great for myself, my partner and my kids.

Father Pentonville

Other comments

I have found these sessions particularly moving, perhaps the most valuable prison project I have been involved with.

Prison Officer Pentonville

The children really enjoy these sessions (homework club). Talking to the other mums helps too. At home no one is in the same boat as me. These visits are three times better than normal visits.

Visiting mum Pentonville

Current work

• Running embedded literacy, numeracy, science and technology sessions for mothers and their children at Holloway Prison

• We have completed a Skills for Life Awareness course and have started a teacher training course at Holloway with a view to training women to run workshops and/or run Family Learning provision

• We are hoping to start running embedded literacy, numeracy, science and technology sessions for mothers and their children at Pentonville Prison

The Family workshops:• These are informal and run as one off workshops• Literacy is covert and embedded within the

activities• Activities are open to all parents and children

regardless of literacy needs• There is no accreditation – we see these as a first

step back into learning

How does LLU+ provision differ from conventional family literacy?

The parent only sessions:• Literacy is not overtly offered, it is embedded within

the activities provided• There is no accreditation• Each session forms part of a programme but is also

stand alone• Sessions are open to all parents regardless of their

literacy levels

How does LLU+ provision differ from conventional family literacy?

The Helping My Child with Reading Course:• Literacy is the theme of the course ie we look at how

children learn to read, why reading can be difficult• The aims include enabling parents to support their

children’s literacy development regardless of their own literacy level

• The context enables parents with literacy needs to begin to understand the reasons for their own literacy needs

How does LLU+ provision differ from conventional family literacy?

The Helping My Child with Reading Course cont:• The context enables parents to begin to articulate

their literacy needs and to move on to address these needs

• The activities give learners the opportunity to practice their literacy skills

• The course is accredited at all Open College levels from entry – level 3

How does LLU+ provision differ from conventional family literacy?

Scheme of work Holloway Prison

• Spaghetti engineering – language of maths e.g taller, balance, angle

• Duster dolly – following written instructions; giving instructions

• Rainbow strings – telling a story, following diagrammatic instructions

• Making a joke book – reading and writing

• Making a Christmas Card – writing for a specific purpose• Making a board game – following instructions, asking

questions, reading, writing• Making word searches• Making place mats or door plates

Scheme of work Holloway Prison