Headteacher Glyn Turner and his staff at Leighton Primary school in Crewe recognise the benefits of sharing their professional expertise with parents. Vicky Robertson, Special Educational Needs Coordinator, runs courses, accredited by the Open College Network, to help parents understand how their children learn to read and how they can help them at home. Similar courses are run for teachers and teaching assistants so there's a consistency of approach throughout the school. Parents can also sign up for a basic computing course and share in another significant aspect of their children's literacy and learning. The parents speak enthusiastically about the courses and feel they have more confidence to help their children. Several have also taken further training to become teaching assistants and we hear from Sue Storey, a parent and trainee teacher, who helps run a homework club for KS2 pupils. A Learning Mentor is always on hand to support parents who still find school a bit daunting.

Video Series: Literacy - The Whole Story
Release Date 2006