PARENTS have teamed up with their children to make books as part of a learning scheme.

The Quality Time project, based at the recently-built Pennywell Early Years Centre, in Sunderland, is funded by grants totalling half a million pounds, and runs in schools and nurseries across the Ford, Pennywell and South Hylton areas.

It aims to raise literacy, numeracy and communication skills among children aged between nine months and seven years.

As part of the scheme, assistants have been working with parents to create alphabet books.

Children were encouraged to work with their parents selecting pictures, colours and photographs, so they would associate letters with themes and colours.

Angela Proctor, family worker for the Quality Time project, said: "The aim of Quality Time is to get parents involved in their children's education and the alphabet book project has done just that.

"Parents will now take the book home and use it as part of their child's learning.

"All of the activities are designed to be fun as well as educational, and not only do the children enjoy them, but the adults do to."

Parents and children who took part in the alphabet book project were presented with certificates and copies of the book yesterday.