This project is aimed at improving the transition from home to school for minority ethnic children, engaging their parents/carers in the early education of their children, and promoting the value of ethnic minority languages and culture within pre-school and early years education programmes.

Transition from home to any new learning environment for young children can make a range of stressful demands on both parents and their children. But this can be particularly stressful for minority ethnic parents if their cultural upbringing and language is different. The project aims to break down these cultural and linguistic barriers that may be hindering minority ethnic parents in engagement with their children’s education within educational settings.

Parents are children’s prime educators in their earliest years and they continue to play a major role in their young child’s learning when they enter any early year’s setting. With this in mind, it is important to help these parents understand the important connections between encouraging positive emotional, personal, and social development in young children and the development of all aspects of learning. It is important to listen to parents to find out more about what they are already doing with their children so that, we as professionals, can extend on their learning.

The project is very much involved in:

• Developing a pre-school home visiting service to minority ethnic families
  
  
• Establishing and facilitating the development minority ethnic parents/carers with the aim of promoting personal development and informal educational activities
  
  
• Assisting minority ethnic parents/carers to participate in and contribute to early education of their children through effective contact with Education Department including nursery and primary schools, Bilingual Support Service and other agencies as appropriate
  
  
• Supporting the development of minority ethnic parents/carers in the role as co-educators of their children.
  
  

There are a number of educational activities run by the Project. They consist of:

Literacy Skills in English Language The English language is a major barrier for minority ethnic mothers here in Dundee. They have difficulties in liaising with their children’s nursery or school because of the lack of English. English literacy classes have been set up offering basic to advanced levels focusing on speaking, reading and writing of English at the following times and venues: Visit the Discover Learning for Yourself website

Sanjha Group

A new group has been formed in the above premises focusing on mothers and their children (crèche provided).

This new exciting group will involve many activities such as:

• English Classes to speakers of other languages (crèche provided)
  Visit the Discover Learning for Yourself website
  
  
• Feel Good Classes including massage, reiki, and relaxation
  
  
• Art Activities
  
  
• Parents playing together with their children
  
  
• Cooking Classes focusing on nutrition
  
  

  And much much more…
  

Interested in Computers?

Access to Learning Project is offering FREE taster sessions in computers for minority ethnic communities who would like to learn new skills. There will be a Punjabi/Urdu worker who will be there to help run the sessions.

The first of these sessions will be held on the following dates:

Should you wish to book a place on either of the above dates or for information on future dates please do not hesitate to contact us.

Further Information

For further information on any of the above please call:

Komal Pawar Project Worker Access To Learning Equality and Diversity Team Conference Hall Central Library The Wellgate DUNDEE DD1 1DB Tel: 01382 431509 Fax: 01382 431542 alp@dundeecity.gov.uk
	OR
Susan Gunn Team Leader Equality and Diversity Team Central Library DUNDEE DD1 1DB Tel: 01382 431513 Fax: 01382 431542 susan.gunn@dundeecity.gov.uk