Home Link Team - East Ayrshire Council: What was done

How often did it run?  

Since 2017 the home link (HL) Team has offered support on a 52-week basis, not just term time. 

Support is offered on a termly basis, however, this can be extended if required. Care is taken not to provide long term provision thereby promoting independence and not dependency.   

The school holiday programme, including family learning and wider achievement activities, run for; Easter - two weeks, Summer - seven weeks and October - one week. 

How long did it run for?  

The HL team have been in post since August 2017 and many programmes have evolved over time. The new school-based format has been in place since March 2024.  

Programmes continue to be offered where the post evaluation reflects that these are the type of community-based sessions that families wish to attend. Similarly, for the Wider Achievement programme offered to secondary school aged pupils.  

In order to make the Parental Empowerment provision sustainable, work was developed in partnership with Columba 1400; Parents and staff co-produce a bespoke East Ayrshire values-based programme. This allows schools and parent volunteers to utilise the resource as they see fit.  

What space/location did you use?  

School, community building and outdoor spaces were utilised. Families identify what suits best and service providers work around this. 

How many individuals were normally involved?  

Fifteen families per HL Worker provide ‘one to one’ support to the whole family. (presently 120 families) 

Pupil group sizes vary according to the needs of the children/young people but are typically around five to eight.  

Family learning and wider achievement opportunities are offered to approximately ten families per school. However, additional sessions can be arranged to ensure all families who may wish to participate, are able to do so.  

The initial invite comes from the school, with a follow-up call from the HLW, then and invitation, to come into the school/or community venue to attend a taster session, is made. Sessions can also be promoted at parents evening, school events etc.

What did the overall project programme look like?  

The HLWs have a core role of supporting fifteen families at any one time. Providing ‘one to one’ sessions, home visits and regular support. In addition, they provide pupil and parent groups. Pupil groups include; Enhanced Transition and Wider Achievement programmes. Other family programmes include; Family Involvement programme, Parental Empowerment programme and iLunch family learning. 

What did you do each time you met? (Was there a structure on how it was delivered?)  

The team come together on a regular basis at development sessions which allow for reflection on the data from the post evaluations and feedback from families/ young people. This was then almost an endorsement to create an offer that families design. This included the where, when, time and learning content of each session. Programmes and sessions can often include peer leadership mentoring, delivered by young people that have previously engaged and parent volunteers.  

Key connections with community-based partners, enabled the provision of a taster session at HL programmes, with a link into community-based clubs and school-based activities includingActive School Coordinators. Community partners include; Gowanbank outdoor activities, bowling at the Garage, Dynamic Youth Award activities at Dean Castle Country Park and a session at Above Adventure, YIP World (a local youthwork provider), Cumnock Junior Football Club and Kilmarnock Football Club.  

Linking in with the Meals and More funding, a hot meal or packed lunch has been offered at all programmes since post COVID-19 thereby helping to reduce holiday hunger.  

Over the past twelve months wider achievement awards have been incorporated as part of the ‘one to one’, family learning and Wider Achievement programme, this includes Wild Challenge for families, Youth Achievement Award (YAA) - Youth Scotland, Dynamic Youth Award - Youth Scotland, Hi5 Award - Youth Scotland and STEM Learning Awards 

Over one hundred awards have been gained over the 2023/24 period by young people.

It is imperative that sessions are not resource heavy and utilise the outdoors as well as items families may have at home. 

To measure impact for ‘one to one’ support, a wellbeing web linked to SHANARRI indicators has been used along with the Home - Mind Of My OwnMind Of My Own resource. 

Other resources used include: 

• Education Scotland resources - Parents and families

• Parent Health and Wellbeing information site -Training and support provided by the local authority Health and Wellbeing Officer 

• Activity booklets linked to numeracy and literacy (this was supported by training provided by SAC numeracy and literacy education managers) ensuring the delivery of accurate and consistent information. 

Example of online resources to support this include:

Numeracy:

• National Numeracy  

• Maths Week - Family activities  

• 25 playful math activities for after-school 

• Maths with Michael   

Literacy:

• Bumps to Bairns (Highland)  

• Resource library for families - Speech and Language UK: Changing young lives 

• Bookbug for families - Scottish Book Trust 

• Play Scotland information leaflets Archives - Play Scotland 

• Play Ideas - Play Scotland 

• STEM activities via the SPARK magazine

• Dynamic Youth Award

• Nature of Scotland Awards  

There has been collaboration with parents to utilise their skills and experience to enhance the holiday programme. This was based on feedback from parents and pupils.

• Most importantly, establishing relationships with children, young people, families and staff is paramount to receiving any level of engagement.  

• Centring the programme around families / creating bespoke support packages 

• Community based  

• Listening and acting on comments, feedback and post evaluations  

• The family approach consolidates learning at home  

• Linking in awards and celebrating success  

• Attending child’s plan and Team With The Family meetings 

• Providing consistent and regular feedback to family and education.  

• Regular check staff workload and data to ensure we are maximising impact. 

Team members share the learning with each other, preventing unnecessary time spent on duplication. All resources, evaluations, partnership contacts, pre- and post-evaluations and relevant data are all saved on a shared drive for the team to access and utilise at any point.