Parents struggling to help their children with maths homework in Barrow can join a new club to get support.
Furness College has teamed up with Ormsgill Primary School to offer the help with homework maths club for parents.
The free, six-week pilot is part of the Government-backed Multiply Programme to support adults in improving their numeracy skills.
Parents will be tasked with learning key mathematical topics and methods that will enable them to support their child with homework, improving both understanding and confidence.
Ormsgill School headteacher Mick Cull said there would be places for up to 10 parents on the pilot, which will start next week.
“We really value the partnership between home and school and see this as a great way to help parents support their children’s learning,” he said. “This will all take place in a relaxed and familiar setting with school staff that the parents know well. I’d encourage anyone who is interested to take part. It promises to be lots of fun and we look forward to seeing this project develop further.”
In total, £270 million is being allocated nationally. Cumbria has £2.3m to be used over the next three financial years. It is part of the Government’s Levelling Up mission to ensure that by 2030, the number of people successfully completing high-quality skills training will have increased.
Hilary Johns, Furness College’s head of faculty for academic programmes, is supporting the scheme that will be led by Ormsgill School teaching assistant Jackie Mayvers.
Hilary said: “We wanted to support parents when working with their children on maths concepts because we recognise the challenges they face. Sometimes parents are keen to help but may not have done so well at school themselves or were taught in a different way. This will be in a community setting, rather than a classroom, and the aim is to build their confidence.
“It is vital to create a positive culture around learning maths skills in order to support a child’s studies at home and, in the longer term, to unlock job opportunities,” she said.
Similar schemes are planned at Chetwynde and Vickerstown schools, both part of the Furness College-led South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust, in the future.
