An exceptionally strong skills training programme which covers language skills phonics and civic education skills.

Overview
This six-level course offers a fast-paced syllabus and a wide range of optional resources to support a high number of teaching hours per week. The series starts with an optional pre-school course First Friends before children move on to Family and Friends.

Key features
- One third of each unit is dedicated to skills training. The step-by-step approach focuses on writing and early literacy skills to build childrens confidence in reading writing speaking and understanding English.
- One in six lessons is a phonics lesson to train children to recognize and produce English sounds. At levels 1-3 the lessons are supported by flashcards and by more activities on the Student MultiROM.
- The civic education syllabus educates children in good values and behaviour. The Photocopy Masters Books at levels 1-2 include 15 values worksheets.
- The Testing and Evaluation Book and the test builder element of the Teachers Resource CD-ROM help teachers to evaluate childrens progress.
- One lesson per page with clear lesson objectives makes the course easy to teach.
- Accompanying resources including the Grammar Friends series skills series Teachers Resource Pack course readers and Teacher Resource CD-ROM allow teachers to focus on additional skills training and means the course can fit different teaching programmes per week.