Realising the Ambition tells us that ‘Family learning encourages family members to learn together as a family, with a focus on inter-generational learning. Family learning activities can also be specifically designed to enable parents to learn how to support their children’s learning’.
‘Family learning is a partnership approach which can lead to positive outcomes for both adults and children. It can be used as an early intervention and prevention approach which reaches the most disadvantaged communities. Family learning helps close the attainment gap through breaking inter-generational cycles of deprivation and low attainment. The effects of family learning are known to extend beyond the duration of the intervention and provide lasting impacts and improved outcomes (Family Learning Review, 2016).’
Examples of family learning could be:
- Parent workshops
- Stay, play and learn sessions (these can have a curricular theme)
- PEEP sessions (for more information click here)
- Read about Newtonmore Gaelic Nursery’s family learning treasure hunt here.
Please find resources to support family learning below:
Bumps to Bairns This website has lots of ideas to support play, learning and development for babies, toddlers and young children that can be shared with families.
Fèis Ròis Family Cèilidh – Cèilidh Theaghlaich
Click on the tile above to access Emerging Literacy resources which can be shared with families.
Highland Psychological Services’ resource ‘Improving Literacy with Parental Involvement’ is now available to download electronically for use in your establishment.
Click the image above to access the resources.
The Bookbug website has lots of information on the benefits of sharing stories, songs and rhymes with babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers and there are leaflets in various languages for parents to share tips when reading with children.
Why not display this information for parents and carers as well as using it yourselves.


Play Scotland provide a range of ideas and resources to support families understand the value of play and engage in play with their children.