Relatively few studies of family literacy programmes have investigated
parents’ views, despite their importance for the future development of
this kind of programme in early childhood education. This article reports on a
family literacy programme from the perspectives of the parents involved in it. The
study was carried out in socio-economically disadvantaged communities in a northern
English city. Parent experiences were investigated through interviews at the
beginning and end of the programme (N = 85) and home visit records.
Interviews with a control group (N = 73) of parents who had never
participated in a family literacy programme were also conducted at the end of
programme. Take-up and participation rates were extremely high for child-focused
components of the programme, but the adult (parent-focused) education component had
lower take-up. Parents expressed extremely positive views about the child-focused
component of the programme and all felt it had benefited children. There was
evidence, according to parent report, of programme impact on family literacy
practices. Implications for family literacy programmes are discussed.
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