Improving literacy and numeracy skills for refugee children and their parents, alongside Australian born children and parents, was the focus of a small grant to Banksia Gardens Community Services.
Banksia Gardens Community Services was awarded a small grant to provide a language and learning support program to children and their parents in two primary schools in Melbourne. The program targeted refugee families and Australian born children with low literacy rates.
One to one learning and small group tutorials delivered improved literacy and numeracy outcomes for the participants.
A total of 32 children and 13 parents participated in the program.
The children showed an increase in confidence in speaking and understanding English, greater ability to participate in the classroom, increased enjoyment of classroom activities and improved social and academic outcomes.
As a result of the course, parents and carers increased their confidence in their ability to support their child’s learning and increased their understanding of the school system in Australia.
