Transforming lives

A parenting project in Dundee has been so successful that it was one of five shortlisted for the prestigious European Alcuin Award, an initiative launched in 1991 by the European Parents Association to highlight the role of parents as partners in the education of their children.

PALS (Parents Altogether Lending Support) is a six-week course comprising one 90-minute session a week, during which groups of between four and seven share their experiences as parents and learn from those of others.

Dundee city council's education department identified the need for a parenting programme in 1997 and PALS was set up the following year.

Initially based in areas of socioeconomic disadvantage, it is now offered throughout Dundee as part of the Early Years and Childcare Partnership's service.

Janet McLean, a mother of five, says the course had a huge impact on her.

'Because my behaviour changed, their behaviour changed. Instead of thinking, "thank goodness, I can get five minutes for a cup of coffee", I said to the children, "it's great that you are playing nicely together".

'My 12-year-old had a kidney transplant after being on dialysis for a year,' she adds. 'What I learned on the course affected my attitude to that. I was able to keep things as normal as possible for everybody.'

Academic evaluation Crucial to PALS' success has been the fact that, from its inception, funding has been available for assessment by Dr Suzanne Zeedyk of the University of Dundee's department of psychology. She is studying the longer-term effects by interviewing parents more than a year after they have completed the PALS programme to find out whether they have maintained the skills they developed and if there have been any wider or unexpected benefits.

'Our findings show the extent to which PALS has helped to literally transform the lives of parents and children,' she says. They have also shaped the programme and will help to ensure its continued success.

The most unexpected finding related to support networks. Before PALS, participants referred only to professional support. But after completing the course they looked to their family and friends, and felt less need for professional support. Dr Zeedyk says, 'The effectiveness of personal networks shifted once the challenges facing parents no longer seemed so overwhelming. PALS strengthened existing social networks and created new ones.'

Most participants feel that their increased self-esteem has greatly enhanced their ability to support their children's education. Irene Werrity, the early years co-ordinator who developed the programme, says, 'Evidence highlights the value to children, families and schools of good home/school partnerships. A PALS type of programme is one means of building such partnerships.'

Family perspectives

Parents have, in fact, helped school staff to develop a greater understanding of family perspectives by contributing to the education department's in-service training days, the Scottish Executive Early Years Best Practice Initiative and seminars at the University of Dundee.

Dr Zeedyk has also explored ways to encourage attendance and has been instrumental in finding ways to help parents who have difficulties participating in a group.

The PALS programme begins by identifying parents' existing strengths, then working through four areas: building on existing strengths; identifying the behaviour they wish to change; considering the range of tools that could assist in accomplishing that change; and developing individual action plans for making the change. Gaining support and self-confidence from the programme has also had a big impact in other areas of their lives. A number of parents have enrolled in courses or decided to change jobs, and many have said how nice it is to have friends and feel part of their community.

Dr Zeedyk says, 'Dundee is to be congratulated for having stuck with the programme. It's had such a positive outcome in such a short space of time.'

She adds, 'We were delighted to be part of the Alcuin Award because there is only one nomination from each country. For PALS to go forward from Scotland was quite an endorsement. When we first set it up, there was a lot of doubt expressed about whether it would be successful. In fact, it has changed the lives of many families.'