PARENTS are being offered the chance to learn alongside their children as part of a £400,000 education investment in Sunderland.

The Click on to Write programme, is a three-year initiative targeted at year six and seven pupils at schools in the city's Pennywell area.

It will focus on involving parents in their children's learning, particularly in improving their writing skills.

Seven schools to benefit from the project will be Pennywell Comprehensive, Havelock Primary, South Hylton Primary, Quarry View Junior, St Anne's, Broadway Junior and Pallion Primary.

The project will develop family learning programmes through school computer facilities. Equipment from the project could also be available for home use.

Resources available to the project include lap-top computers, PCs, computer suites and video conferencing facilities.

Jacqui Morris, headteacher at Pallion Primary School, said: "Click on to Write recognises the benefits of involving parents in their child's learning.

"But at the same time it recognises that some parents need the support to do this.

"The project aims to raise skill levels and develop IT awareness among parents. This will enable them to work with their children and support their learning."

The project has been funded by the Government's single regeneration budget cash.

Additional resources have come from the Education Action Zone and City of Sunderland College.

It is estimated that 200 pupils and parents will take part in the three-year project.