Parents of six-year-olds in Chelmsford are taking over their seats in an infant school classroom as they learn computer skills

Eleven parents have taken up the challenge of joining their children for a quarter of an hour in the new computer suite at Lawford Mead before taking over the classroom for a further hour and a half for an adults only session

The 12-week course has been taking place on Friday afternoons, finishing in time for the parents to collect their children at the end of the day.

It has been organised by Jill Underwood, family learning co-ordinator at the Adult Community College, Chelmsford, as part of the college's growing outreach community work

The course is free and offers the parents a qualification in basic word processing

Office administrator Mary Carpenter said that the course had proved popular, with all the places quickly snapped up

New courses are planned for the autumn to help more parents not only keep up to speed with their IT-literate children, but gain valuable qualifications and skills

Jill Underwood said that Lawford Mead Infants had been supportive about running the scheme and that any other schools interested in family learning classes should contact her at the college's Beeches Road, Chelmsford, headquarters on 01245 263013

Published Monday, June 23, 2003

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