RoFaL Roma Families Learning Project County Clare VEC Clare Adult Basic Education Service is funded by the Department of Education and Science with assistance from the European Social Fund as part of the National Development Plan 2007-2013.
Irish Education System 1 year free pre-school provision at 3 to 4 years Primary school from 4 years to 12/13 years – 8 classes Secondary school from 12/13 years to 17/18 years 5 years with an option in some schools for an extra transition year after Junior Certificate State exam after 3 years - Junior Certificate State exam after next 2 or 3 years - Leaving Certificate Further education or third level options
Mary Flanagan, Co-ordinator Clare Sheahan, Resource Tutor The County Clare VEC Clare Adult Basic Education Service is funded by the Department of Education and Science with assistance from the European Social Fund as part of the National Development Plan 2007-2013.
Our work involves… ..supporting parents to help their children learn … recognising parents are the first and most natural teachers of their children ..parents seeing the home as a very valuable learning place ..building social networks for parents ..engaging parents in learning, encouraging parents to become lifelong learners ‘ The influence of parental involvement on a child’s learning is eight times more important than any other factor (1999)’ (Feinstein and Symons 1999 :51)
What do we do in Family Learning ? Engage hard to reach parents who may otherwise not take part in adult education Support those who left school early and want to improve their basic skills Support parents/carers with literacy difficulties Provide a wide range of programmes across the county Parent only and parent and child together programmes Encourage the notion of lifelong learning Provide an opportunity for parents to meet with other parents
Work done to date: Meetings with local partners Organised two visits to Turkey Identified translator to meet with Roma families Supported Czech/Slovak evening in school Developed questionnaire (translated into Czech) Collated information, identified needs of parents Set up classes for Roma parents Organised purchase of exhibition displays, laptop and camera Parent booklet English/Czech English/Slovak and English Administration, accounts, reports
Ennis Educate Together National School " The ethos of our school is multi- denominational and in this atmosphere the moral, intellectual, social and physical growth of our pupils is nurtured." Principal - Seán O’Confhaola Home School Community Liaison Teacher – Joann Fitzgerald Funded by Department of Education and Skills
Ethnicity in Ennis Educate Together National School 30 Slovak Roma Children 35 Czech Roma Children 15 Moroccan Children 25 Irish Traveller Children 60 Children from Ireland and from the rest of Europe
Ennis Educate Together School Work done to date: Visited Roma Families with translator Run coffee mornings for Roma parents Developed a Roma parent and toddler group Developed a website for Roma children Made contact with Acarlar school in Turkey Developed content for parent booklet
Ennis Schools Completion Programme Áine Meehan / Nicola Moroney Working for 10 years in Ennis in five schools Primary and Post Primary Retain students in school In school, after school, out of school, holiday time. As part of the work of the Department of Education and Skills, Social Inclusion Unit our work is supervised by an interagency steering committee. Now part of the work of the National EducationWelfare Board
Our work with Roma Community Ennis Community College Ennis Educate Together Extra resource classes Attendance monitoring Attendance monitoring Home visits Reduced curriculum to Home work support encourage attendance Behaviour support Parental links through Communication – letters home visits and school translated meetings. Activities after school Support with uniforms, books.
Home School Community Liaison Teacher – Patricia Murray Home School Community Liaison teacher for Ennis Community College is provided because of levels of need in the school ( HSCL not in every school) Her role includes home visits to Roma parents Home visits can be for a variety of purposes
Our work in RoFaL involves: Retain Roma students in school by Linking primary and secondary students through website.... Extra resource classes to engage students Developing our response to students with special needs in the Roma Community Supporting school staff learning through growing our understanding of the Roma community and building links with local university Working to create better home school links through parents evening and parents newsletter Interagency response to the needs of Roma students
Clare Immigrant Support Centre The Clare Immigrant Support Centre (CISC) works with immigrants in County Clare to ensure all immigrants have access to appropriate state services and that the rights and entitlements of all immigrants are upheld. CISC is a nongovernmental organisation with charitable status. It is governed by a voluntary Board of Management, some of whom are directors. Órla Ní Éilí, Karyn O’Donovan
Our work involves… Drop-in Service The Drop In operates 3 mornings a week, no appointment necessary, to give accurate, current information, advocacy Casework Individual and family casework delivered to Immigrants in a secure and friendly environment. English Language Programmes English Language Tuition, Homework Club, and Orientation Programmes – offers flexible and non-formal programmes Liaison/Advocacy/CommunityDevelopment/Outreach work This work provides an opportunity to address gaps, initiate responses among service providers, and develop models of good practice
Our work Involves…continued Organisation and Participation in Cultural, Social and Commemorative Events These events seek to create opportunities to deepen integration in • the community Support development and capacity of immigrant led activities and groups Provide advice, skills, venue, assistance to source funding, link to other organisations Lead or Partner Agency Responsible or co-responsible for 31 actions in the “Integrated Strategy for the Coordination of Services to the Immigrant Communities in County Clare 2009 -2012 ”
Our plan through RoFaL Link Roma parents to the Project Support translation of information booklet into relevant languages Support the interpreter working with families in focus groups Support parents to access the 16 hour programme Contribute material to common exhibition Share best practice through the project website and project meetings
Our work with Roma Community Roma community avail of Drop In service – issues include school placement, social welfare payments, employment issues Welcome Pack in Czech distributed to community English language class for adults Provide language support to teenage participants on Clare Youth Service Programmes Supporting schools with events that Roma community attend Participation and dissemination of info on RoFaL project Participated fully in RoFaL
CISC with Ennis School Completion and Home School Liasion has Initiated a pilot Roma Community Link Project which engaged a Czech and Slovak speaker to deliver support for parents experiencing school difficulties with their children ; Engagement with Clare Youth Service re translated orientation and accompanying CYS students around work placement ; Translated introduction to summer programmes for Czech and Slovak parents : Participation and dissemination of information on RoFaL project Translation of booklet for local school - Scoil Chriost Ri . Roma link worker accompanying people for appointments with : public health nurse ; social workers ; social welfare; CISC Drop in; schools ; employment training courses Ongoing training for link workers in local services and in translation
Added value from all partners Czech Slovak evening in Ennis Community College Application for community translators in Co. Clare Promotion of work at UL conference 28/29 th April CFLP took on Roma work experience student for 7 days from Ennis Community College Facebook page for RoFaL set up by Principal in EENS Links made with Health Service Executive has facilitated contact with University of Limerick Links for visit to Clare Childcare Committee from Acalar Primary School staff 2011-2012.
RoFaL Project launch Ennis, Ireland October 2010
Parent response to questionnaire How familiar are you as a parent with the Irish school system Very familiar 17% Know very little 35% Know a little 48%
What level of education did you complete? Second Level 41% Primary 59%
Could you rate your own reading and writing skills in English 25 20 15 10 5 0 Good Fair Poor
Parent response to questionnaire What would you be interested in learning more about? 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Cookery and How the school English language Music and dance Drama Computers Car mechanics Sewing Nutrition system works classes
Round table discussions
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