Newsletter: Wednesday 3rd October
Welcome to the first quarterly Family Learning e-Newsletter going out to all practitioners and interested parties in Ireland and abroad.
We hope to share the latest news and developments about good practice in Ireland and let people know about Family Learning events that are on.
We would welcome your suggestions and comments for the future, with any news and events to add to our next Newsletter due in early January 2008.
News Items
1. Welcome to the New Look Website
Posted on Wednesday 29th August
Welcome back to everyone involved in Family Learning after the Summer Holidays. The Clare Family Learning Project is gearing itself up for a very busy term.
We have just launched our new look website www.clarefamilylearning.org - we hope you like it. Please let us know if you have ideas we can add, or if you have problems using the website.
2. Family Learning and Active Citizenship
Posted on Sunday 23rd September
As a partner in the Grundtvig 1 Project ‘Families and Active Citizenship Education –an Integrated Training’ (FACE – IT), The Clare Family Learning Project has developed a five topic programme. We integrated this into our Family Learning programmes with two groups before the summer, finishing the topics on the day of the election in May 2007.
See www.faceitproject.org for more.
3. DEIS Funding
Posted on Friday 28th September
Funding from ‘Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools’ (DEIS) is being made available to run Family Learning Programmes in partnership with Primary and Post Primary Schools on a pilot basis. Work will begin shortly on this new initiative.
4. Dads and Lads
Posted on Sunday 23rd September
The Clare Family Learning Project piloted two Dads and Lads programmes using Sport as a theme before the summer break. The Ennis programme had four sessions, while the Ennistymon programme had six sessions. There was a lot of fun and games with great interest and support from the Dads or Significant Males.
Sessions included: Playing soccer, Sports Quiz, Cameras and Computers, Sports Books, Fun Games.
Following on from this we have had requests for Dads and Lads Fun Experiments using Science as a theme, we are running two programmes at present, while Dads and Lads using ICT and Sport is running in one centre.
Upcoming Events
1. How to develop a family approach to Active Citizenship
Tuesday 13th November
Three day international training course in Ennis with two days online, one pre and one post training. This will be held in Adult Education Centre, Ennis on 14th, 15th, 16th November. There are still 3 or 4 places available, the National training will be available in February 2008 . Fee €200. Contact m.flanagan@crws.ie
2. ‘Learning Together A Seminar on Family Learning’
Tuesday 23rd October
The Clock Tower, Dept. of Education and Science, Marlborough St. Dublin. 23rd October 10.15am – 1pm. Minister Sean Haughey will launch Report. Contact Alison O’Toole at info@presentation.ie. Family Learning in Ireland input by Clare Family Learning Project.
3. ‘Exploring the Benefits of Non-Formal Learning in Adult Education’
Friday 30th November
Speakers: Alan Tuckett UK and Prof. Kathleen Lynch, UCD. Woodstock Hotel, Ennis. 30th November. Contact m.greene@crws.ie Will include a Family Learning workshop.
4. Family Learning Tutor Training
Thursday 17th January
Next Family Learning Tutor Training will be held 17-18th January 2008. Contact m.flanagan@crws.ie
5. Early notice of National Training
‘How to Develop a Family Approach to Active Citizenship’
Wednesday 30th November
A three day event on 27th, 28th and 29th February, 2008. Fee €200.
Participants who have access to groups to deliver this topic to are welcome to attend.
Contact m.flanagan@crws.ie
Comments from participants evaluation at the November International Training include:
Wonderful opportunity to meet and learn from others, about Family Learning and Active Citizenship but also about a lot of things far beyond our project remit. Sharing and networking about our relevant areas and getting personal support for various issues coming up in our lives. Friendships made.
