East Hastings Childrens Centre

The Learning and Skills Research Group was created in 2008 as a result of an initial project that was undertaken through Cupp in response to a request by a local community group in Hastings, The Ore Valley Forum, to try to understand why levels of achievement in young people were the worst in the country at that time. The group brings together a lively mix of people from education, business, local communities and the local authorities to research, discuss and disseminate information about educational underachievement; the links between education and business; greater involvement of the community in supporting education; and life-long learning.

This case study reports on a project which investigated the ways in which young children and their families were encouraged to engage in educational and social opportunities to support their children’s learning. It was supported by the Ore Valley Forum, Cupp’s On Our Doorsteps fund, Hastings Borough Council and Turning Point. The project built upon previous research which showed that young people who have poor experiences of school and few qualifications can be drawn back into formal education. The project team wanted to see how educational regeneration is affecting parents and families with young children. It explored the relationship between parental involvement in Children’s Centres, how parents help their children learn within the home, and whether parents acquire knowledge and skills in their children’s development and education which affects their own involvement in educational activities. Specifically, the project aimed to identify what aspirations parents hold for their children; to what extent these are influenced by their own life experiences; and how Children’s Centres can support parental involvement in their children’s learning.

Parent volunteers from East Hastings Children’s Centre received training and support to undertake research interviews with local parents using a questionnaire devised by the research group.

The project provided numerous insights into the ways that local parents make use of, and perceive the value of Children’s Centres. Many of the parents with young children had limited horizons and aspirations, with their lives ‘on hold’ whilst their children were young. They were ‘settled’ in their locality and about their futures. They were self reliant when it came to knowing how to parent their children and were influenced by close family and friends. Generally they had good knowledge of activities in the Children’s Centres but much more limited use of them.

As a result of the project, the local Children’s Centre in East Hastings has sought permission from Hastings Borough Council to begin to use Facebook as a means to engage parents. One of the parent researchers gained confidence by being involved in the project to apply for and successfully gain a position in the Children’s Centre. The Centre was given an outstanding grade by Ofsted when it was inspected commenting favourably on the way in which the Centre was engaging parents.. Two of the parent researcher mentors have made presentations to the academic community, one at the Universities Association for Lifelong Learning (UALL) Annual Conference in Cambridge in March 2012.

The current relationship between the members of the community in the Learning and Skills Research Group, Cupp and the University in Hastings Campus, is proving to be sustainable despite the changes in membership within the community as organisations are disbanded, individuals made redundant or have to seek employment elsewhere. The issues that the community engagement process needs to tackle are more relevant and more pressing than ever. The small scale successes of the research project outlined here will not resolve such issues but they ensure that steps can be taken to help members work actively together, to generate knowledge and stimulate appropriate action in the community.

Yvonne Hillier, Professor of Education, School of Education

Y.G.J.Hillier@brighton.ac.uk