Families And Schools Together

A number of Neyland Community School families have recently `graduated` from a pioneering education programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Families and Schools Together (FAST) is an award-winning project that strengthens and builds positive relationships between schools, families and local communities to ensure children thrive at school. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The eight-week programme is voluntary and available to all families with young children aged three to eight. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It involves participating in activities such as singing, drawing and playing games, cooking a family meal and having focus time for parents. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Each week, families can win a resource hamper to help support children’s learning in the home. The families are assisted with a team of partners composed from the school, their community and parents. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The parents then have an opportunity to continue as a FAST works family group for up to a further two years. The school has now officially become a Certified FAST site. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mrs TJ Stables, Family Liaison Officer at Neyland CP school and FAST co-ordinator, said: “The effort that the families and the whole team have put into this piece of work is to be commended. Through this, the families and school have become closer and we are working on future plans already. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I would not hesitate to recommend FAST to other Pembrokeshire families and schools because of all the support available, and everyone feels a sense of satisfaction and pride in a job well done. As always, we are grateful for all the support that we get from our local community.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Damian Golden, Pembrokeshire County Council’s FAST Trainer and Play Sufficiency Officer added: “FAST aims to provide a fun and relaxed space for families to experience a mixture of play and learning activities, hands-on coaching and support for parents and carers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Parents have the biggest influence on their children’s learning and development with FAST offering families the opportunity to build upon this. The participating families with the FAST partners have all thoroughly enjoyed themselves with the feedback being very encouraging. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am very proud of this team and their incredible commitment to the FAST programme and the families involved.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Caption ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Pictured are the recently Certified FAST partners. Back row: Grayham Passmore, Head teacher Elizabeth Griffiths, Alison Jenkins, Lucy Chapman, Damian Golden. Front row: Gertrude Bleasdale, Toni-Jo Stables, Claire Morgan, Leanne Nicholls. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​