While these initiatives are to be commended, I cannot understand why both parents and grandparents of existing or former pupils of local primary schools have not been asked to volunteer to listen to children reading and help with basic number work.
There must, surely, be a wealth of knowledge and life experience to tap into, with parents and grandparents. Likewise, this group would be only too willing to help their local primary schools…

The Public Accounts Committee report of December 8 on Improving literacy and numeracy in schools in NI has recognised the worth of parents. Point 10 in the Conclusions and Recommendations section states: “Parental involvement can have an important impact on the educational attainment of children. Huge gains can be made in literacy and numeracy attainment levels if parents received more encouragement to work with schools in support of their children’s education and opportunities were taken to engage parents to provide educational development in the home”.

Source: Belfast Telegraph
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/letters/article2106352.ece