Learning In Families

COMET and MIT have entered into an agreement about a new family learning and literacy programme. Family Pathways- Te Whanau Ara Mua will start in two Manukau schools in July.
Adults who enrol in Family Pathways will complete the newly developed MIT level 2 Certificate in Family Learning and Child Development.

The year-long programme includes:
•    Improved work-readiness
•    Improved study skills
•    Development of a richer understanding of how children learn and develop
•    Enhancing how adults can help children in their whanau with literacy and numeracy.

Family Pathways is designed to lead participants onto higher level study and to increase confidence as parents.
During 2010, COMET and MIT will work with the Ministry of Education to establish sustainable funding to enable us to offer Family Pathways to more schools. Family Pathways builds on the experience gained from the highly successful Manukau Family Literacy Programme (MFLP) that ended in November 2009.

Thanks to all our supporters who lobbied government for the continuation of funding for family learning and literacy programmes and who took part in the initial shaping of the Family Pathways programme. 
We look forward to our new partnership with MIT and this new opportunity for families in Manukau.

Family Pathways is a key project of COMET’s newly developed Centre for Family Learning. As Centre Manger, Susan Warren will lead the programme and you can contact her on (09) 968 8773 or susan.warren@manukau.ac.nz

For seven years, COMET led the development of the Manukau Family Literacy Programme (MFLP) as a model of partnership for intergenerational learning. 

Research demonstrates the value of parental and community involvement in learning. Therefore, family and community engagement is a strategic priority for the national Schooling Strategy.

Many schools develop family and community engagement initiatives that Invite parents to participate in initiatives or activities; Invite other organisations (such as businesses, churches, sports) to participate in initiatives or activities.

Under the Education Act 1989, a school community is defined as the parents who send their children to a school. However, a wider group of stakeholders are also interested in education outcomes. These stakeholders include local government, business, Maori and Pasifika community organisations, and other central government agencies. COMET’s work to build family and community engagement in education is on two levels.

The first level creates practical projects and innovative programmes. The second level takes a wider view about the frameworks required for working together.

The Manukau Family Literacy Programme is a Level One response to the need for partnerships around intergenerational learning needs among families in Manukau City. The programme supports multiple outcomes for adult learning and qualifications; children’s learning; and parenting practice.

The SmartCentres project facilitates the use of information and communications technologies (ICT) in early childhood centres, in order for them to engage with families and community resources.

Level Two demands a closer examination of what systems or structures are necessary to enable the community to support education in Manukau. Part of this work has been to identify a model for more collaborative action. The emerging Manukau Model for Family and Community Engagement identifies some essential elements for practical and effective engagement.