An after-school project aimed at helping parents learn how to spend more quality time with their children has been such a success that it is being rolled out on a yearly basis.

Richard Alibon Primary School in Alibon Road, Dagenham, had 25 families sign up to the nine-week project, which is run in partnership with the Save the Children charity.

The scheme was open to all parents of reception-age children.

On May 15, the parents, their children and aunts, uncles and grandparents attended a “graduation” ceremony at the school to reward them for their efforts.

Assistant headteacher Emma Thomas, who oversaw the project, said: “We said we’d do it because we liked the idea of building good relationships with our parents and families. It was quite a commitment, as it was for nine weeks at two-and-a-half hours a time.

“Many of them brought all of the family. It was a good opportunity for the parents to spend quality time with their children. During the sessions they had meals together and each family had an opportunity to cook.”

At the end of each class, a lottery was held with a hamper of items such as cooking implements and family games to win.

Ms Thomas added: “We’re definitely running another one.”