A KEY element in an exciting initiative in Newton-le-Willows between parents and St Helens Council will be the creation of a Parent's Information Centre located at Newton Library.

Said Councillor Marlene Newman, chair of the Education Committee: "The initiative, Partnership with Parents, is aimed at involving parents in helping them to play a more meaningful role in their children's education. The scheme, an element in the Newton 21 Project, will include several features.

"The Information Centre will play a crucial role in bringing together information about child development, the National Curriculum, health and welfare, childcare activities and organisations for children, voluntary organisations and services for children."

The centre will be an extension of the library's information dissemination role and will provide a front-line service to parents making enquiries about specific educational issues.

It is expected that partnerships with voluntary organisations and other external bodies will be further developed through the centre which will facilitate parental support for the children's education processes.

Another key component of the project will be developing accredited courses for parents in specific areas. This will be built on the Early Reading Skills for Parents courses linked to Reading Recovery for which 150 parents across the borough received accreditation last year.

Courses for parents are being developed and these will be part of a 'core parent curriculum' with the Newton project.

Councillor Keith Deakin, chairman of the council's Leisure Committee, said: "The council recognises that the development of confidence-building and awareness-raising measures is central to parent education. It recognises that there will be some parents who find the idea of parental involvement difficult and who may need substantial support to play a meaningful role in supporting their children's education and attention will be given to this."

A series of special events to celebrate, develop and promote parent education and parent support will be held. It is also envisaged that the project will work in partnership with the Council for Voluntary Services (CVS) to support volunteers within schools and help them to work towards the 100-hour Volunteers Certificate.

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