New paper on the impact of learning as a family Wednesday, November 11, 2009 - 17:09

The impact of learning as a family: a model for the 21st Century - published today by the Inquiry into the Future for Lifelong Learning - argues that family learning has a powerful contribution to make to the future of lifelong learning.

The paper - drawing on evidence collected from NIACE's current research and advocacy in this field - makes a number of recommendations to ensure a greater consistency across government departments. These include:

• the introduction of new national indicators for this area;
• a wider introduction of the system for capturing the generic outcomes of learning;
• reforms to workforce development;
• a system of local lead learning practitioners to advocate on behalf of learning in families; and
• the introduction of a new curriculum for social justice.

Penny Lamb, author of The impact of learning as a family: a model for the 21st Century, said:

"We must develop a holistic approach to learning as a family and move away from thinking about learning in terms of individuals and funding streams. It is through a joined up and coherent approach across government departments and in local communities that we can develop a true vision for the twenty first century. I am delighted that the Inquiry has given us the opportunity to start this debate."

In an article for November's issue of Adults Learning, Carol Taylor - Director of Operations at NIACE - draws on the paper. She wrote:

"NIACE would like to see a future system with a notion of the learning family at its core."

The impact of learning as a family: a model for the 21st Century is the ninth of the Sector Papers published by the Inquiry.

The Sector Papers discuss the implications of lifelong learning for each of the sectors involved in providing learning opportunities, to encourage innovative thinking as part of a systemic approach to lifelong learning.