Independent Inquiry into Family Learning (England and Wales)

In an environment where family learning seems to have lost ground in policy, research and development over the last few years; where the funding situation is fluid in both England and Wales; and where Government agendas around 'troubled families', parenting and welfare reform don't appear to include family learning, the Inquiry will look at what needs to happen to place family learning back at the heart of policy, research and development. 

We are issuing a call for evidence for examples of creative and innovative practice and for examples of effective practice that contributes to policy agendas. To submit your evidence, please use the pro-formas below and send them to gillian.aird@niace.org.uk by Thursday 20 December 2012.

Pro-forma 1 - creative and innovative practice.

Pro-forma 2 - practice contributing to policy agendas.

There are slightly different pro-formas for Wales to reflect the different policy environment, please see the NIACE Dysgu Cymru site:
English language version
Welsh language version

We will also be gathering evidence by:

• holding a variety of focus groups, including for local authority family learning managers, schools, third sector, culture sector, policymakers, colleges;
• bringing together a research reference group;
• producing videos of interviews with learners;
• visiting family learning provision.

The Inquiry, which was launched on 12 October 2012 at a seminar attended by HRH The Princess Royal, patron of NIACE, will seek to explore the following questions:

• What strategic links exist at local and national level between family learning and other policy agendas?
• How can the DfE/ Welsh Assembly build family learning into its strategy to raise children's attainment?
• What does an appropriate local infrastructure to support family learning look like?
• How do schools encourage and engage with families and support learning in the family?
• Is there a need to increase innovation and the quality of family learning provision?
• Do further education providers need to better understand the role of family learning and respond more effectively to community need?
• What alliances currently exist to support family learning? Is there scope to create new networks? How is the voluntary sector involved?
• What are the gaps in evidence for the value of family learning?
• How can learning in the family be promoted?
• How is learning for families funded at the present time?

Speeches from the launch seminar:

1. Professor Lynn McDonald, Middlesex University - How learning in families contributes to a range of policy agendas
2. Ann Walker, Director for Education, WEA - Family learning and its role in widening participation in adult learning
3. Martin Dunford OBE, CEO Skills Training UK - Family learning on the Progress! Programme
4. Jonathan Berry, Director Community Health and Learning Foundation - Health and family learning
5. Sarah Teague, Commissioner for Learning and Development, Isle of Wight - How learning in families can contribute to a range of policy agendas, including turning around 'troubled families', improving children's attainment, adult employability, family health and adult skills

The Inquiry will be of interest to anyone working with families or in adult learning in England or Wales.

Who is involved?

The Inquiry is independent of government or any political party. It is chaired by Baroness Valerie Howarth of Breckland and is steered by the following Commissioners from England and Wales:

JD Carpentieri (Senior Policy and Research Officer, Institute of Education)
Bryn Davies (Chair, NIACE Dysgu Cymru)
Mark Dawe (Chief Executive OCR)
Martin Dunford (Chief Executive, Skills Training UK)
Baroness Margaret Eaton of Cottingley (Bradford Borough Council)
Mair Francis (Senior Parliamentary Assistant at Political Office)
Professor Bob Fryer (Chair of Campaign for Learning)
Karen Hanson (Family Learning Manager, Sheffield City Council)
Margaret Lochrie (Capacity Consultants Ltd)
Nick Stuart (Chair, NIACE Company Board)
Ann Walker (Director for Education, WEA)

Key evidence submitted to the Inquiry

Campaign for Learning submission of evidence

Booktrust

National Literacy Trust

Northumbria University evaluation of the Foundation of Light programme at Sunderland Football Club

Manchester Adult Education Service intergenerational buddy project

Manchester Museum engaging families in arts and culture

Ormiston Trust You and your child programme

Ormiston Trust Dads Inside and Out

Weblinks to Supplementary Schools

The Inquiry aims to place family learning back at the heart of policy, research and development.

There will be regular monthly update bulletins throughout the Inquiry. To receive these updates, register online with the Centre for the Learning Family.

Follow @NIACEhq on Twitter and look out for the hashtag #familylearninginquiry.

For further information about the Inquiry, please email jan.novitzky@niace.org.uk or mandy.thomas@niace.org.uk (England) or eirwen.malin@niacedc.org.uk (Wales).