Positive Relationships: Learning together - LEAPP

The Linking Education and Active Partnership with Parents (LEAPP) project was developed in Lincolnshire in 2011 to support an identified group of reception children and their families. This was achieved through partnership working between the Children's Centre Teacher (CCT), the school staff and families.

The project at each location is tailored to the needs of the school and children taking part. This is achieved by discussions with the teaching staff, a review of the EYFS profile scores and input by the CCT to verify the programme meets its objectives of raising those children's achievement and attainment. Parents are included throughout the project to support their child through everyday opportunities.

The majority of the support takes place in the classroom within a small group, with the focus on Personal, Social and Emotional Development and Communication, Language and Literacy. The teaching assistant (TA) and CCT plan together to ensure a better understanding of each child's progress, characteristics and interests. The activities take place through 'Active Learning', therefore giving children 'real' experiences. The extra support ensures children are given more time to respond and share their ideas, so helping their self-esteem and confidence to grow. This, included with observations of their body language and engagement, can support their EYFS profile assessments.

ENGAGING PARENTS

A key part of the project is engaging parents to support their child at home. Parents of the selected children were informed of the LEAPP project and invited to a launch event, to join sessions and to a final celebration event.

Parental support and engagement was achieved in a variety of ways:

• Establishing relationships by inviting parents in to school to meet the CCT, to learn about the project and their role within it.

• Valuing communication between home and school.

• Increasing daily dialogue between the TA and parents.

• Sharing everyday resources and understanding their role in the home environment.

• Including parents in project activities with their children.

• Raising parental confidence to continue the learning at home.

After joining in the LEAPP sessions with their children, parents showed they had greater understanding and involvement in their children's learning. They knew how the games and activities they played with their children supported their skills and were more likely to play them.

FEEDBACK

Parental feedback has included these comments:

'I've learnt how to interact with my son today by playing the games with the sounds and the way it's important to allow the child to hear the sound correctly.'

'The group is making a huge difference to how we are looking at books and reading. Very proud of him.'

'He's more confident in himself since he's been coming. More interested in music, likes singing and dancing.'

'Kyle has gained a lot of confidence because he is not afraid to have a go at anything and before doing this project I feel he was overwhelmed.'

'His writing has improved and he wants to do it now.'

'We read stories every night.'

One school TA summed up the project by saying:

'The impact for most children was confidence building and being able to work in a small group to have appropriate activities implemented. All parents enjoyed the opportunity to share the learning with ourselves and the children, to be able to then implement things at home. School and class teachers appreciated the work of the project and the significant improvement to the children's attitude to learning and the achievements they made.'