2. The development of the Family Club

2.1 As part of the Irvine Royal Community School Cluster's collective developments, a community room was established in our school for use by all the cluster schools' parents and community groups. The community room has a central working area and a suite of computers around the sides of the room. It has been used for computing classes, sewing classes, parents' meetings and community association meetings.

2.2 Building on these foundations the Community School Development Team began to develop initiatives to take working in partnership with parents even further. John Galt Primary School and its previous Head Teacher were approached to pilot a Family Club that would take place after school, the funding being provided by the Supported Study budget. The objective of the Family Club was to provide an opportunity for children and their parents or carers to come together to participate, still together, in a variety of educational, recreational and social activities within a learning environment. The club was launched through an open day that was held in John Galt Primary School, organised by the Community School Development Team. A variety of activities was offered - physical recreation and games (See Picture D), quizzes, cooking, board games, arts & crafts and the use of the community room computer suite. It was staffed by two teachers - volunteers but paid - and two creche workers. The creche allowed parents and carers the freedom to be with their primary age children while younger siblings were cared for in the same building. It took place on a Thursday evening from 6.30 - 8.00pm and was in operation for approximately ten weeks.

2.3 The Family Club offered opportunities for partner agencies to become involved too. The Community Food worker was invited along to present a taster session on how to cook healthy food. This session was such a success that a healthy eating class was formed running on one evening per week. The aim of the class was to improve life through diet. Comments from parent participants are noted below:

I never knew healthy cooking could be so cheap.

I liked trying out new cooking ideas.

2.4 The club was widely enjoyed and the overwhelming opinion was that it should continue if funding could be found or identified. As part of an HMIe Review that took place into the Irvine Royal New Community School Pilot, the Inspectors found that:

	the Family Club had helped to build positive relationships between school staff, pupils and their parents
	the Family Club had successfully attracted participation from all kinds of families
	working at the Family Club had allowed the staff to gain a better insight into the issues that some families, and the local community, have to face
	the Family Club provided a good example of Partnership Working
	the Family Club contributed to building a positive school ethos

2.5 Thanks to the success of this pilot programme, funding was secured to continue the initiative in the new session when the present Head Teacher was appointed. Three other schools in the Authority developed Family Clubs during our second session and yet more schools are taking up the idea this session. Even before the Club was organised for the new session, parents and children alike were asking when it was going to re-start. There was no problem getting staff to volunteer. Staff who had moved on to other schools even offered to return for the Club sessions - such was the value they put on the project!

2.6 No initiative can stand still, however successful it is, and the aim in the second year was to have the parents take more responsibility for the organisation of the activities. To this end, the first evening of the new session was an 'adults only' night to organise the first round of activities. It ran broadly along the same lines as the previous year, incorporating organised activities alongside a more flexible programme. The one rule that was strictly adhered to was that every child - or siblings - must be accompanied by at least one parent or carer. The second year of the Club was just as rewarding as the first and the enthusiasm of staff, parents and children never wavered. The Health Quiz, circus skills night, Ready Steady Cook and the 'alternative' Christmas party stand out as highlights of the programme.

2.7 Staff comments include:

The club attracted some 'hard to reach' families - some children were attending the club who had poor attendance at school.

I was able to form positive relationships with pupils throughout the school.

I was in the fortunate position of being involved in the Family Club last session and I look forward to participating this year.

Parents' comments emphasised the value they placed on having quality time with their children:

The thing I have most enjoyed about the Family Club was playing with the children and spending time over crafts activities - often at home you don't get time to sit with them.

I would recommend the Club to other parents as it ensures that you do make time to be with your children, enjoying activities together.

Parents also commented on the fact that although many people were familiar faces to them, the club had encouraged new friendships (See Picture E):

The family club was a great opportunity to spend time with my own family but also with other children and other families.

Pupil comments were also enthusiastic:

It was excellent! Fun!

I liked making the pizza.

I beat my dad at games.

I liked it because you got to play with different equipment.

When pupils were asked why they would like it to continue, one P5 boy replied, "Because it's too good not to".