Why we need literacy development in families?
Family literacy is needed because there are still substantial literacy inequalities both amongst adults and children in Ireland (CSO, 2013; ERC, 2015). Research has shown that when parents are involved in their child’s learning, it positively affects the child’s performance at school. It impacts on early years literacy and educational outcomes into the teenage and even adult years.
Family literacy programmes improve the literacy and numeracy practices of parents and other family members. They have a significant knock on effect on the school performance of children. Family literacy provides a win-win scenario to policy makers and practitioners, particularly those involved in education in disadvantaged communities.