Margaret Lochrie, author of the new policy paper, Family learning: building all our futures, said, 'This report considers research which suggests that family learning not only benefits children, but may make a significant contribution to the lives of adults - confident parenting, literacy, language and numeracy, combatting educational equality, poverty and social exclusion.
'There is a compelling case for making family learning accessible to all families in the same way as antenatal or primary health care. To achieve this would require additional public funding, but the benefits would more than justify the expenditure.'
Recommendations for further family learning initiatives in the paper include establishing a national body to manage family learning provision for adults, and encouraging organisations such as the DfES and the Learning and Skills Council to broaden family learning programmes to encompass children's development, nutrition, language, numeracy and ICT, and domestic finance, tax and benefits, housing and health.
Jeanne Haggart, family learning development officer at NIACE, said, 'This paper offers a number of very practical recommendations on how this coherence can be achieved through sectors and departments working together.
It is more important than ever that we have a broad and integrated notion of family learning that can help to drive forward the children and family agenda.'
The policy paper is published by NIACE and costs 8.95 on 0116 504 4216 or the website www.niace.org.uk/publications.
