Celebrating Family Learning: empowering families, strengthening communities

These courses provide a unique opportunity for families to learn together in a creative and stimulating environment, fostering a sense of community and shared growth. By improving parenting skills and essential skills such as English, maths and language, the courses aim to build confidence and inspire families to take positive steps towards enhancing their lives and opportunities.

Courses are delivered both online and in Kent schools, family hubs and community venues.  All Family Learning courses are free to adults (over 19 years). Please see the KAE website for further details on the full range of courses and eligibility.

Over the past year, 3,200 parents and carers (3,900 enrolments) took part in more than 550 Family Learning courses in the county, delivered through strong partnerships with Kent schools, Family Hubs, libraries and community organisations. These achievements reflect a powerful synergy with local Family Hubs’ and schools’ priorities and a commitment to inclusive, high-quality education.

Outcomes from these successful courses are wide ranging on many levels and delivery is set to expand in 2025/26:

Improving parent and school relationships:

• 30% of courses are currently delivered in schools, fostering direct collaboration between educators and families.
• Family Learning tutors create safe, caring environments, enhancing trust and engagement between parents and schools. 100% of learners surveyed said they felt safe on their course.
• Courses such as autism awareness and ADHD support, help parents better understand their children’s needs, leading to more informed and supportive school interactions.

Increasing skills of parents and children:

• Courses focus on life skills (SEND support, parenting, English, maths, first aid) and career development, equipping families with tools for resilience and independence.
• SEND-focused courses saw a 4% increase in demand in 2024/25, with over 500 parents and carers attending 74 sessions, demonstrating growing recognition of their value. A parent on an Supporting ADHD in the Home course said: "It has given me strategies to help my child and help me and my partner cope. It has provided me with reassurance and helped me feel less alone in struggling with behavioural issues. I feel more empowered to help my child, and I have gained a better understanding of her and myself."
• The programme is structured to facilitate first step engagement into learning through creative workshops where parents and children learn together in a fun environment. Parents can then progress to longer courses as they acclimatise to their supportive learning environment.
• Many learners who achieve their outcomes progress into further learning, volunteering and employment in fields such as childcare and teaching assistants.
• Parents gain practical strategies to support their children’s development, with many reporting positive behavioural changes and improved family dynamics.
• Partners report improvements in parent and child interaction and also improvements in parent and professional setting interaction and communication.

Improving school attendance:

• By empowering parents with knowledge and confidence, Family Learning contributes to better home environments, which support consistent school attendance.
• Parents report feeling more capable and less isolated, which can reduce barriers to regular school participation.
• Parents feel more able and confident to advocate in a collaborative way for their children and this helps to support a better relationship with members of the school team.

Fostering community cohesion:

• Courses are delivered across Family Hubs, schools, libraries and online, ensuring accessible learning for diverse communities.
• The programme engages hard-to-reach learners, promoting inclusion and shared learning experiences that strengthen community bonds. Some groups progress to self-support following the end of the course, through their own independent groups.

Aligning with education priorities:

• The curriculum is ambitious and sequenced, supporting learners to achieve outcomes aligned to the EIF and educational goals.
• Leaders and managers, through discussions with schools and settings, adapt and design new courses to meet emerging priorities.
• Tutors and managers are highly responsive to local and national needs, ensuring that Family Learning complements and enhances school initiatives.

Please take a look at some of our parents’ achievements on our website:

• Sarah’s journey through Family Learning
• Nuran's Family Learning success story
• A recipe for success at South Avenue Primary School

Or view our Family Learning course brochure (PDF, 1.2 MB).

If you would like to host a Family Learning course or would like more information, then please contact Caroline Grover, County Education Manager, Family Learning Kent Adult Education, by emailing Caroline.Grover@kent.gov.uk.