Family learning for all!

Burngreave New Deal funded Community Education Co-ordinators (CECs) have been busy organising the first community Family Learning Days at Byron Wood and Pye Bank Schools. Parents, children and the wider community took part in a range of fun creative activities, including:

• Circus Skills
• Tabla And Dhol Drumming
• Bhangra Dancing
• Arts and Craft Activities
• Mendhi Art
• Computer and Internet
• Sports And Games
• Children’s Entertainer (Kimmo)

Four hours of enjoyable arts and cultural activities were rounded off by a show from Kimmo, a great family entertainer, with magic, ventriloquism and comedy. Over 200 adults and children attended the events at both schools.

The children soon got stuck in, finding where each activity was taking place, but it was also encouraging to see parents respond to the family learning challenge and take part in the activities alongside their children.

The happy smiling faces of children and adults, as well as the weariness of the activity leaders at the end of the day, showed the events were a tremendous success, thoroughly enjoyed by all who took part.

Feedback comments including “It’s been great”, “Let’s have more of these days”, and “I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve done today” are testament to the success of the family learning days. It is hoped these will become regular features of the school calendar.

Pye Bank and Byron Wood Primary Schools would like to thank Creative Burngreave; Sheffield City Council – Adult and Community Learning; Music Works; Burngreave Sports Network; Greentop Circus; Byron Wood After School Club Playworkers; and Kimmo in supporting these successful family learning days. Special thanks also to the school staff who gave up their Saturday to make the day a success.

Derek Moxam, CEC
(Byron Wood Primary and Pye Bank CoE Primary schools)