Family Learning

If you want to gain confidence in supporting your child's learning or family life, then Family Learning may be for you. Experienced tutors and a dedicated outreach team support you in FREE courses all around the city, some with free childcare. We also offer opportunities to gain qualifications for you to kick start your own learning.

If you’re a mum, dad or carer of a young child, then the most important educator in that child’s life is you!

Mums, dads and carers who are more confident and take an active interest in learning themselves act as positive role models for their children. If you want to give your child a good start or are considering a career working in schools or childcare settings then take a look at the range of courses we offer. 

Family Learning courses are a great place to begin

Early Start - words, numbers and play

For parents/carers of children aged 1-2 years old. Develop your child’s language skills through simple activity ideas using rhymes, books, and play. Come and learn new ideas; share your own experiences; and be inspired by others.

Stories, Songs and Rhymes

Bring books to life using story sacks and digital storytelling, to help your child develop a life long love of books and stories.

Healthy Eating on a Budget

Talk about the choices you have when buying and preparing food and find out how a healthy diet can lead to a healthy family. Gain maths and cooking skills for buying and preparing healthy meals.

Crafts and Outdoor Play

Share ideas and activities using every day things you might find in the house and outdoors. Talk about how these activities develop your child's confidence, imagination and co-ordination, expand their vocabulary and help them discover the world around them.

Managing Stress for Me and My Family

This course explores what some of the major stressors are and shares hints and tips for dealing with stress. Put some simple, achievable actions into place so you can begin to manage your stress better, feel more in control and enjoy family life more.

Keep Up with the Children in English, Keep Up with the Children in Maths

Parents often tell us that they are baffled by work the children bring home from school. These courses can help you cut through the jargon, find out about modern teaching methods and gain confidence in your own skills.

The Keep Up courses are Family Learning flagship programmes.

We work with schools to promote them and monitor the impact on the child’s learning.  Recent local research confirms national findings that these courses can have a significant impact on children’s attainment at school.

Keep Up with Children in Maths

• Find out how children are taught maths at primary school.
• Get your own up to date maths qualification.

Keep Up with the Children in English

• Find out how children are taught literacy in primary school
• Get your own up to date English qualification

How Children Learn to Read and Write

• Learn how reading is taught in schools
• Learn what ‘phonics’ means and how they help children learn to read

• Encourage children’s early writing skills
• Look at how writing is taught in schools
• Fun activities to share with your child

Book your free place now

Contacts

For further information about our courses or how we can work in partnership with your organisations, please contact Fiona Himsworth, the Family partnership manager on Fiona.Himsworth@york.gov.uk.

Family Learning Childcare

Many of the Family Learning classes are supported by free childcare. All of our childcare staff are qualified and experienced. They provide a range of activities for children dependent on the child’s age and stage of development in accordance with the Early Years’ Foundation Stage Framework.

During the first session of a regular group, each child will be allocated a key person who will liaise with the child’s parent/carer to ensure individual needs are met. Many of the courses involve parents and children sharing activities which parents may have prepared in class and the childcare activities often reflect general themes of the courses.

We can also provide childcare for other organisations. Further information about this and copies of policies and procedures relating to our childcare are available on request from:

Jill Murphy, Childcare Manager Tel: (01904) 554236 jill.murphy@york.gov.uk

York learning

Family Learning is a part of York Learning. We also offer:

English and Maths qualifications from a first qualification right up to GCSEs — and they’re all FREE!! The courses and resources are based on real life topics and themes. 

• One to One Assessments to find out which course and level is best for you.
• Get Started: basic reading, writing or maths skills for a first qualification (referrals welcome)
• Get On: qualifications for those who want to brush up on the basics and gain confidence.
• Move On: Level 1&2 qualifications prepare for NVQs, apprenticeships, GCSEs or further/higher education or to build up your CV for improved job prospects. 
• GCSE: From September-June, free for those seeking to achieve A-C/4+ grade.

Supported learning courses for learners who need additional support.

Adult apprenticeships and foundation learning opportunities.

Computer courses from beginner to advanced.

Employability skills

General enquiry details

Address: City of York Council, West Offices, Station Rise, York YO1 6GA

Phone: 01904 554277

Email: family.learning@york.gov.uk

Website: https://yorklearning.org.uk/family-learning/