Norfolk families in pioneering project
Sarah BrealeyPupils and parents at four rural Norfolk high schools are benefiting from a pioneering link-up that is helping families by providing out-of-school activities and training courses.Sarah Brealey
Pupils and parents at four rural Norfolk high schools are benefiting from a pioneering link-up that is helping families by providing out-of-school activities and training courses.
Reepham, Aylsham, Acle and Broadland high schools have joined forces with Broadland District Council as part of Broadland Community Learning.
The programme, which started in early 2009, supports family learning, with the schools devising and delivering extra-curricular courses and activities to meet their local needs, and improve the circumstances of families during the recession.
Events have taken place at schools, village halls and community centres in towns and villages.
Chris Hill, head of business support and leisure services at the council, said: 'The success of this programme shows what can be done by providing a small amount of funding for the community work of four schools and not being too prescriptive with regard to specific outcomes for the funds.
'Each of the schools has conjured up an amazing set of interesting and valuable courses and family fun days.'
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Aylsham High held a family fun day with an emphasis on ICT, and also ran courses for childminders and playgroup leaders needing to update their legal knowledge, as well as courses on food hygiene, nutrition and healthy lifestyles.
A family day based on green environmental issues was held at Reepham High School which also ran courses for adults facing or already suffering redundancy, food hygiene, computing for beginners and on health and safety issues in the workplace.
Acle High School used some of its money to support its three-month Broads and Marshes Summer Arts Festival which included dance, theatre, music, creative writing and other events - many of them at primary schools in the Acle area - as well as organising learning sessions on dance, family history, exercise, first aid and IT.
A sports day for parents and children and a free introduction to family sailing were both held by Broadland High School along with courses on helping children to learn, computers and the internet, first aid, Pilates and food hygiene.
t For more information about Broadland Community Learning call 01603 430563 or email leisure@broadland.gov.uk.
