This year’s Staffordshire’s family learning campaign is offering free family fun, including exploring the great outdoors, conducting fun science experiments and creating computer animations.
The national celebration lasts from 19th October to 3rd November as part of a national drive to inspire families to have fun while learning together – but in Staffordshire the learning opportunities are available throughout the year.
Activity themes include ‘earthy explorers’ for learning about nature; ‘science sleuths’ to stimulate imaginations with simple experiments; and ‘digital discoverers’ for showing how to stay safe while getting the most out of technology.
Philip White, Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for Learning and Employability, said: “Our community learning service offers a wide range of things for families to have fun doing together and all of them are free.
“Whether it’s for parents and their children, or grandparents and their grandchildren – the point is to have some fun with the family.”
All the information about these courses – and others such as budgeting for a family, helping toddlers learn maths and English skills through play and parenting skills for new parents – are available on an easy-to-use website at www.staffordshirecommunitylearning.org.uk/family-learning.
The national Family Learning Festival is an annual event promoting a love of learning in family life and involves schools and children’s centres, libraries and museums. The year-round courses are also popular with parents and carers and feedback so far has included helping parents keep their own identity, reassuring them they’re on the right track with their childcare, offering individual practical advice rather than ‘one-size-fits-all’, and encouraging mums to think about part-time working.
Philip White added: “The Staffordshire website is easy to find and use, but people can also call us on 01785 278770 for a chat if they prefer.”
