Fusion

The purpose of the project is to develop a sustainable model for peer-to-peer training in parenting skills through the design of a 6 week course. The course will be accessible to a wide range of parents wishing to develop their skills in supporting their children and is supported by the production of high quality materials which can be accessed in hard copy or online.

It is different from other parenting courses in the accessibility of the materials which are pictorial and designed to be annotated by individual participants to reflect their thoughts and learning. The approach taken is facilitated discussion based on real life video case study examples with participants comparing their experiences and strategies.

Fusion was developed initially to address the needs of Conifers Primary School which was facing particular issues with pupils' behaviour. The potential of the course was recognised by the Chesil Education Partnership which now provides it as part of its CPD programme. There is significant demand and waiting lists for the course, with headteachers, social workers, staff and parents providing testimonials on the positive impact it is having. It is currently being assessed for the Dorset kite mark.

Key Benefits:

• The production and online publication of high quality supporting materials will enable communities to develop and improve effective parenting skills.

• The training materials will initially be used within the Chesil Education Partnership but will also be made more widely available through online publication.

• Parents' groups and schools will be able to download the materials and tailor them to their own particular circumstances.

Materials

Further information on the Fusion materials can be found here.

Launch Event

The official Fusion Programme launch party and Award ceremony took place on Saturday 12 April 2008 at Conifers Primary School, Weymouth. The press notice can be downloaded here.

Jim Knight, Minister of State for School Standards (second from the left in the photograph below), officially launched the Fusion programme. The launch was a celebration event put on by Karen Todd and Katy Phillips, the creators of Fusion, for their families and all the families and friends who contributed to the making of the Fusion programme.

The Minister, who is also the local MP, praised Karen Todd and Katy Phillips for their innovative programme. He said "Thanks to Curriki, what started in Weymouth has now been taken on by the local county of Dorset for all its schools and from today is within the reach of parents globally." "..... How does that make you feel?" he asked the local parents who were all contributors to the final programme.