EastEnders star visits London South Bank University

Over 200 mums and dads were presented with the awards at a special evening ceremony, organised by the London Language & Literacy Unit (LLLU).

Also receiving certificates were students who have completed the LLLU's Basic Skills Awareness for Frontline Workers courses.

The awards ceremony is now in its fourth year, and its significance is summed up by the LLLU Director, Madeline Held: "For many parents this will be the first ever certificate they have received for academic work and it is therefore a huge achievement. The courses the parents have attended help them to understand how children learn and how children are taught so that they can support their children's learning more effectively.

"Some parents will be receiving certificates because they have now qualified to teach other parents, and others have trained as teaching assistants. Many have had to juggle their responsibilities to attend the courses, and the awards are a tribute to their perseverance."