Families, learning, impact and the national agendas: research, policy and practice

Thursday 22 – Friday 23 January 2009, Sheffield

This year’s Family Learning Local Authority Group & NIACE conference will link theory with policy and practice and look at the impact of learning within a family context. It will bring together those who share knowledge and expertise from their experience and research and those who have an interest in Family Learning and Parental/Carer Involvement in a broad range of contexts. This might include anyone who is working with families and parents or those engaging with learning taking place in family settings.

The conference welcomes contributions for presentations and discussion sessions and participants from

• Academics
• Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
• Department for Children, Schools and Families
• Extended Services
• Family Learning and parenting practitioners
• Family Learning research students
• Government Offices
• Learning and Skills Councils
• Lifelong Learning UK
• National organisations e.g. ParentingUK, National Academy for Parenting Practitioners
• YOIs and Prisons
• Probation Services
• Training and Development Agency
• Voluntary and Community Sector

Conference themes

1. Research methodologies – a variety of views

2. Families, learning and social engineering

3. The links between theory and policy

4. Progression, outcomes, transferable skills and the language of learning

5. Impact and the national agendas

Presentations

 
Selections will be made following receipt of an abstract for a 30 minute presentation which could take the form of a paper, case study, narrative, music and poetry in a workshop group.

Discussion sessions

Selections will be made following receipt of an abstract for a discussion session which involves the contributor posing a question or ‘hypothesis’ and leading the group in discussion and debate based on this.

Submission requirements

Abstracts should be submitted by e-mail (Microsoft Word file) to clare.chisholm@niace.org.uk

The subject line should refer to the Families, Learning, Impact 2009 conference. All abstracts will be considered by the conference planning group. The abstract and concept submission should include the following:

• Name of author / presenter(s) – making it clear which author is the primary contact
• Organisation represented, contact e-mail, telephone and postal address
• Title and type of submission clearly indicating if submitting a paper, case study, narrative, poetry or if leading a discussion session
• 250-400 word abstract that indicates the key conference theme being explored, and (if leading a discussion session) the question or hypothesis to be discussed.

Deadline for all submissions: Wednesday 3 December 2008

Notification of acceptances or declines: Wednesday 10 December 2008

For a further details view the conference brochure

Enquiries to gurjit.kaur@niace.org.uk; Tel. 0116 204 2833