Speakeasy Cornwall

EVERY PARENT MATTERS IN A HEALTHY SCHOOL!

As part of the development of healthy schools in Cornwall and our commitment to Every Child Matters the Cornwall Healthy School Team are introducing support for schools to work with parents and carers.

Parental involvement is vital if we are going to see long term effective changes in children’s health and there are increasing requirements on schools through things like extended schools and requirements of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 to look to increasing parental participation in all sorts of ways.

One of the most exciting is the introduction of…

"CORNWALL SPEAKEASY
COWS AIZ KERNOW"

Enjoyable, fun, safe, proven to be extremely effective.
Real parental involvement leading to better knowledge, increased confidence, parental self esteem building (including an opportunity to get a OCN qualification and become a peer mentor)

See Speakeasy featured as good practice for involving parents from Teachers' TV

view video

(no wonder we are excited)

WHAT IS SPEAKEASY?

Speakeasy offers a non-threatening group-based opportunity for parents and carers to acquire the confidence and skills they need to talk to their children about sex and sexuality. It is designed to be fun and relaxed, providing an atmosphere where parents can learn together from their own experiences. It is locally organised and can link with educational, community and/or health provisions in a particular area.
Backed up by fpa’s extensive training resources and training expertise, the course offers a flexible and relaxed way to gain greater confidence in an area that can cause embarrassment and awkwardness for parents and carers. Creative methods are used within our groups including collage and artwork, role play and games as well as more traditional written work for those who wish. The emphasis is on making the courses as accessible as possible for those who will benefit.

The main aims of the courses are:

• to encourage parents and carers to provide positive sex education in the home
• to encourage parents and carers to take on the role of 'sex educator'.

The Speakeasy course is registered for accreditation with the Open College Network (OCN). For those who wish, the course and resulting portfolio-based work can be used to gain OCN credits that can offer a pathway for entry into further education.

A Speakeasy programme usually lasts for 7 weeks including a taster session. Course structure may vary in detail and timing according to the needs of the parents. Tasks may be set after each of the sessions. The additional time spent researching and compiling portfolios will count towards the required time for OCN accreditation.

One of the most exciting developments of Speakeasy elsewhere in the Country is the way parents and carers have gone to become Speakeasy facilitators themselves.

REGISTER INTEREST NOW!

Kate Pordage, CHSP coordinator and Matthew have just been trained as Speakeasy facilitators and DfES will be funding a course for another 12 people here in Cornwall in October 2007. In addition we have just been lucky enough to get a £1000 grant from GOSW to do a detailed pilot in 2 primary schools THIS SUMMER TERM (if you are interested in the summer pilot or for next school year contact the office – we are expecting a big demand!)

More details about Speakeasy contact the CHSP office on 01209 – 310061.or e mail us

Dowload a copy of the fpa parents' leaflet

Download a copy of our information sheet for schools including details of just how effective it is! (evaluation summary)

Download a few notes about taking part in the pilot project

visit the fpa website www.fpa.org.uk/ for more information about Speakeasy.