Curwen’s Family Fun Week encourages parents back into the classroom

When staff at Newham’s Curwen Primary School decided to organise a Family Fun Week they didn’t only persuade parents to pop in and see what their children were doing, they positively encouraged them to get involved as well.

Participation was the name of the game as the Plaistow School organised a variety of fun events with an educational twist that saw parents and carers could working side-by-side with their children from Reception through to Year 6.

The event, linked to the UK’s national Family Week, offered a range of activities including family Spanish lessons, interactive maths games, reading classes and craft and cookery lessons. There were also a number of out-of-school activities, including trips to the Museum of Childhood, West Ham United’s Learning Zone, a Treasurer Hunt from Plaistow Station to Curwen School and a family bike ride to Victoria Park. The successful week was brought to a close with a friendly cricket match against Upton Cross Primary School, part of Curwen’s E13 schools partnership, followed by a lavish picnic in West Ham Park.

Alison Helm, Curwen’s Year 6 teacher and organiser of the Family Week, said: “We wanted Family Week to encourage parents to interact with their children and see learning as fun as well as discover the fun activities they can do on their own with their children, such as going for a bike ride.”

And going by the number of parents that turned up during the three day event, which averaged around 50 a day, there was no doubting that parents and carers were eager to get back into the classroom.

Seven-year-old pupil Tia Lloyd-Palmer, brought her mum Agnes Palmer to a Spanish class. Said Agnes: “It’s been entertaining and refreshing because I’ve been able to participate with my child and has given me time to spend with her.”   Mabinty Kamara, mum of seven-year-old Masiray, who took part in Curwen’s Treasure Hunt, said: “I’ve really enjoyed doing this with my daughter. It’s been very educational and great fun and something I would definitely do again. There was such a variety of activities to choose from but Masiray wanted us to do the Treasure Hunt.”

For Year 2 pupil Selice Pinder having her mum join her in the cookery classes was “wicked”. “We made fruit salad and I did it with my mum. It was really good to spend time with her.”

The number of parents who took part and the positive comments that flooded in have been a real encouragement for the school to run further interactive activities.

Added Alison: “Based on the positive feedback we have received we now hope to turn this into an annual event and organise even more parent/carer participation classes throughout the year as well as run a number of adult only classes that will enable parents to help their children with their homework.”   Commenting on the success of the Family Week, Curwen Headteacher, Paul Harris, said: “It has been fantastic to see all the children and parents involved. The event has been a huge success and shows how our community is working as a team in our learning, with over 140 different families taking part.”