Family literacy

This paper puts forwards findings and recommendations from NALA research on the benefits and impacts of family literacy for both adults and children. NALA believes this information will be of value to practitioners and policy makers working in the area of family literacy in Ireland and elsewhere.

Family learning programmes can help to overcome the barriers to learning felt by families who find it difficult to relate to school learning.  It is an important way of recognising and building on the strengths of families who hitherto fore have felt excluded or marginalised from the expectations of school and society.  This research provides an overview of family learning as it takes place in local communities and details the benefits of participation to the families involved.  A case study design was used with the purpose of interviewing parents attending the family literacy programme, adult literacy organisers (ALO’s) course tutors and school staff who support the programmes. 

Our findings show that participation in family learning is beneficial to families and has a positive impact on the relationship between home and school.

An enquiry with parents about their experience of nurturing language and literacy in the home.

Family literacy work can help to overcome the barriers to learning felt by some adults and children. It is an important way of recognising and building on the strengths of families and communities who feel marginalised or excluded from the expectations of school. This document provides a summary to the full book which is an introduction to the concept of family literacy and guidelines for groups interested in family literacy work.