Friday 23rd July 2010
Linnvale Primary school in Clydebank was the first school in Scotland to pilot the Families and Schools Together (FAST) programme.
Linnvale Primary was chosen to take part in the eight week pilot as one of only seven primary schools in the UK, to see if the programme could work within a Scottish setting.
The award-winning American programme, run in the UK by Save the Children, helps parents to improve their children’s learning and development.
The programme engages all family members in a variety of fun tasks, including family singing, feeling charades and working on arts and crafts. One of the most popular activities at Linnvale Primary was the family meal, which was cooked by a different family each week.
As well as taking part in group activities, families had the opportunity to meet their neighbours and to build new friendships.
Executive Director of Education, Terry Lanagan said: “Any programme that improves a child’s academic performance is welcome in all our schools. This programme not only empowers parents to establish relationships with fellow parents, it also improves pupils’ performance in school.
He continued: “I look forward to this programme being rolled out across all schools in West Dunbartonshire and I am delighted that Linnvale was selected as the first school in Scotland to pilot this programme.”
UK research from the 8 local authorities who took part in the programme found that 100% of parents felt that the FAST team provided them with information, support and resources and supported them in their decisions, as well as respecting them as individuals. 91% of parents agreed that the FAST team had empoweredthem through the way they ran the programme, they felt listened to by the FAST team and that the FAST team took its responsibility towards them seriously and shared power with them.
Nearly 70% of parents agreed that they now have more information and knowledge about their child’s education and that they are more able to make choices after taking part in the pilot. Over 62% of parents reported that they are now more able to contribute to the governance of their child’s school and 77% of parents said that they are now more able to support their child in their education.
Linnvale Primary Headteacher Doreen Philips said: “I think FAST was a terrific success. It was great to see the enjoyment on the children’s faces during Special Play and to be part of the relaxed, informal gathering at meal time. It really did bring families and school together and the pupils involved could not fail to benefit from that.”
The next stage is a 22 month FASTWORKS phase where families continue to meet monthly on an informal basis to build on the friendships formed and to continue the favourite elements of the programme.
Save the Children intends to introduce the programme into other schools in West Dunbartonshire Council and more widely across Scotland.
