Family Learning

Introduction

NIACE’s vision of a learning family is one where every member is a lifelong learner in their own right. Family members of all ages are involved in each other’s learning activities and encourage each other. This helps to raise aspirations and create a long-term change in the culture of the family and patterns of learning. The combination of adults and children learning is crucial in building resilience in families, in creating community well-being, economic prosperity and social cohesion.

Family learning at NIACE

NIACE aims to shape strategy and support practice in family learning. We work with a variety of organisations to demonstrate how family learning contributes to many different agendas and goals. We work with:

• museums, libraries and archives;
• children’s centres;
• local authority family learning services and
• voluntary and community organisations.

We advocate for the role that family learning can play in policy areas as diverse as:

• parenting;
• mental health;
• financial inclusion;
• children’s wellbeing and
• intergenerational relations.

Over the years, we have built up a substantial body of resources and projects which have helped to move the family learning agenda forward. Keep up to date with our work through this website, and our family learning team updates.

We are currently developing the Centre for the Learning Family, as a space for professionals and researchers from across multiple disciplines to come together around the concept of the learning family.

Publications and resources

Latest news from the family learning team

Family Impact Findings - online database of practitioner research and case studies

Family learning case studies - a series of individually downloadable case studies demonstrating the impact of family learning

2009

Adult learning and children's centres: making learning accessible for children and families (Meade, C., 2009)

Developing and supporting family learning in museums and galleries (MLA, 2009)

Family learning in children's centres and extended services: a multi-agency approach (Meade et. al., 2009)

Opening the door: case studies from 2008/09 Family Learning Impact Funding programmes (Thomas, M., 2009)

Providing the evidence: the impact of wider family learning (Cholmeley et. al., 2009)

The Learning Family: a NIACE briefing note (Lamb, P., 2009)

Think Community: an exploration of the links between intergenerational practice and informal adult learning (Thomas, M., 2009)

2008

A strategic approach to family learning and financial capabilities: Family Learning Matters topic paper no. 5 (Plant et. al., 2008)

Families, learning and culture: inspiring families through museums, libraries and archives (Lamb, P., 2008)

Families, learning and progression: a resource pack for practitioners and managers (Lamb et. al., 2008)

Family numeracy: Family Learning Matters topic paper no. 4 (Thomas, M., 2008).

Making the connection: the mental health and family learning pack (Various authors, 2008)

Renaissance North West: Evaluation of the North West Museum Hub Family Learning Initiative (Lamb et.al., 2008)

Skills for grandparents CD-ROM (Various authors, 2008)

2007

Connect Five: family learning and Every Child Matters (Lamb et. al., 2007)

Family learning to employment: raising aspirations and gaining skills: Family Learning Matters topic paper no. 3 (Meade et. al., 2007)

Reviewing Family Literacy, Language and Numeracy Programmes: Family Learning Matters topic paper no. 1 (Clarke, K., 2007)

Quality Matters: think family (Lamb et. al., 2007)

The links between family learning and parenting programmes: a discussion document for local authorities (Lamb et. al., 2007)

The links between family learning and parenting programmes in local authority settings (Lamb et. al., 2007)

The National Occupational Standards for Family Learning and Qualifications for Family Learning Tutors: Family Learning Matters topic paper no. 2 (Evans, S., 2007)

For publications and resources prior to 2007, please see our archived site