Commitment of staff
The commitment of the Headteacher to the project is essential. They need to spend time at the beginning of the project persuading parents to attend. Sometimes the SENCO (Special Needs Co-ordinator) is involved.

When planning the joint sessions you'll work with the teacher taking the children's class. Sometimes a school's full-time class-teacher is seconded, but they can find the extra workload too much. A programme works better when a part-time teacher is given the hours. You also need to be given the hours to plan the programme with them. You will need to meet several times before the course. Then, weekly, while the course is running, to co-ordinate your aims and lesson plans.

Getting the right students
I've found that leafleting and letters home don't work very well! Encourage the school to arrange informal sessions where you can meet parents. Teachers can identify children who need help and invite their parents into the school. With the children's teacher, set up school activities that are fun for children and adults to do together - such as bookbags, puppets or alphabet jigsaws. It's a great opportunity to get to know the parents informally and tell them about the family programme.

You need to make it absolutely clear to the school that parents with a level C or above English GCSE should not be in the class. Ideally you interview students just like you would for college classes. If they are overqualified make sure you have to hand literature with information about local colleges.

As your students will be chosen on the basis of their child's skills, some will not appear to have basic skills needs. Their issues might be homework or communication related.

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