What Next?
As the initial Parents as Partners in Early Learning Project (PPEL) comes to an end, plans are being developed to continue many of the activities and projects that have been successful  - including ongoing support for parents with English as an additional language (EAL) through the Early Language Development courses run by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education.

More than 60 parents with EAL  have participated in the Early Language courses this year and have gained a greater understanding of how they can support their very young children’s early language and communication skills through play and by speaking to their children in their first language at home.

Parents as Mentors
Another group of parents have completed a course with the London Language and Literacy Unit (LLU+) at South Bank University on becoming Parents as Mentors for other parents.  These parents will be a valuable resource for the Children’s Centres as they develop. Experience has shown that often the best advocates for promoting and raising awareness of services are parents themselves. 

These , and other examples described demonstrate the potential for the  developing partnerships between parents and practitioners in the early years in Southwark.