LAL’s new Family Learning offer a ‘lifeline’ as homeschooling returns

A mum-of-two from Thornton Cleveleys has praised Lancashire Adult Learning’s new homeschooling offer as a “lifeline” following the return of learning at home for the majority of school-age children.

Naomi Jensen has completed the newly-launched Homeschooling for Parents English course to support her son Oliver, aged nine, in his education, while balancing the care of her 14-month old daughter Harriet at home.

To support working parents who are balancing professional and/or caring commitments with schooling their children from home, English and Maths classes are being offered online free of charge and flexibly by year group by LAL’s expert Family Learning team, ensuring children don’t fall behind in their education.

In the sessions, parents will learn how to help their child blend their prior knowledge from their previous year at school, as well as have the chance to share ideas and resources that are available to further help them support their child while homeschooling.

There will also be the opportunity to ask the tutor questions about how their child has been taught in school, and parents can improve their knowledge to find the best ways to help their children with their English and Maths.

Naomi said: “I would highly recommend Lancashire Adult Learning’s Family Learning offer. It has been a lifeline for me in ensuring that Oliver does not get left behind in his learning. The tutors on the course are helpful and friendly, and don’t mind you asking questions or asking them to repeat areas of work.

“The way children are taught now at school and the curriculum they learn is completely different to that I did, and some of the terminology used such as fronted adverbials can leave you feeling unsure and confused about how best to support your child.

“I am now much more confident in this area, and we were also pointed in the direction of brilliant resources to help further. It’s also nice to know in greater detail what our children are learning at school.

“I have previously done other courses too with LAL, including Catch Up Maths, where I learned a fantastic new way of doing fractions, and a valuable course on Coding which is now on the curriculum with computing, and something Oliver really enjoys doing.”

As well as the new English and Maths offer, LAL’s new Family Learning provision for 2021 also includes a range of Science, Technology and Engineering activities for children to enjoy while feeding their imagination.

There are also family wellbeing sessions to sign up to, with everything from growing your own fruit and vegetables to yoga. For those who are considering a career in the classroom, there are opportunities to enrol onto accredited courses that can lead into employment as classroom assistants.

Andrew Parkin, assistant principal for Adult Learning, said: “With the return of homeschooling at the start of 2021, we understand how difficult it is for parents who are juggling work and caring commitments and the education of their children, and so we have rolled out our offer to support adults wherever they live in Lancashire.

“Balancing work and childcare is just one aspect of homeschooling, and our brilliant Family Learning team are there to support parents who may be struggling with or who are not be comfortable with the curriculum. The way children are taught and areas of study change all the time, and we are that helping hand.

“Alongside the important English and Maths classes, we also have relaxed sessions designed to get families together and share the benefit of learning – and I hope we see learners right across Lancashire take advantage of our new offer.”

Adult learners in the Red Rose County are being encouraged to ‘take control’ and make a positive start to 2021 through a new offer of courses designed with the current climate in mind.

The new courses are largely free, flexible and available online, and are delivered by Nelson and Colne College Group – made up of Lancashire Adult Learning, Nelson and Colne College and Accrington and Rossendale College.

They include courses to boost health and wellbeing, options to retrain, classes to improve digital skills, and family learning opportunities.

Further information about all of the new range of courses for adults can be found on Lancashire Adult Learning’s website at www.lal.ac.uk.

Enrolment can also be completed on the website, or by calling 0333 003 1717.