Family Learning & Fun Days

Balsall Heath Extended School Cluster and the Children’s Centre organised four family fun days during the summer holidays, held at the Children’s Centre. Over the four days approximately 35 families and 80 children attended, including siblings. The staff were really pleased with the attendance.

The days were organised to support families from the cluster primary schools. Whose children were leaving nursery to go to reception or leaving reception for year 1. Staff stated “these are key transition points for children and it is important that children are given the chance to develop confidence and independence”

The programmes were designed to provide parents with important information about the schools they are attending and the importance of attendance and punctuality. There were able to see the uniforms and PE kits for their school and explore phonics and literacy skills that the children need. The parents received advice on how to support their children in school and children and parents made smoothies, healthy snacks and looked at healthy lunch boxes.

Staff from the Primary Care Trust, based at the Children’s Centre, gave advice on vitamin supplements (available free from the Children’s Centre) and Hidden Sugars in the food and drink children have. They also learnt how to brush their teeth correctly and how important this is.

All of the parents and children had a great time. Parents said “they really valued the sessions and had learnt so much about how to help their children. They never realised that children used dictionaries so young and they wanted to all get one”

The cluster has offered to provide each family who attended a session a copy of the junior oxford dictionary as a thank you for attending. Parents have requested more sessions and it is hoped the cluster can start delivering these after school, holidays and on a Saturday after the October half term.