Reading Together
Each Reading Together session runs for two hours on a Thursday morning. During one typical session the first hour was given over to play and there were a variety of toys and activities for the children to choose from. A Making Together session was included in this hour, providing an opportunity for parents to take part in their children's learning and giving them ideas for activities that they can do together at home using everyday objects. For the next half hour, the children stayed in the main play area, while the parents went to the library's children's section where EPP staff gave tips and ideas for reading with children and recommend any especially good books. Afterwards parents and children got together for a storytelling session.

A theme marks each morning and this is reflected in the books used for the final storytelling. For example, the at this first session the focus was on colours and the books Elmer the Patchwork Elephant and The Very Hungry Caterpillar were used. In a similar way, relevant books are chosen for the other themes, which include textures, shapes and festivals.

At the textures session there are a range of objects with different textures for the children to play with during the first hour, and pictures of scaly reptiles, fluffy chicks and prickly hedgehogs cover the walls. During the quiet 30 minutes with parents we discussed storysacks and how different objects could be used to add a very visual and immediate element to storytelling. The session was rounded off with children borrowing books and an extremely interactive reading of We're Going on a Bear Hunt which helped people overcome any notions they might have about having to be silent in the library!

Partners provide help
Hanwell Library, housed in the same building, offered support in terms of space and advice about books. This has meant that anyone attending the course has been able to borrow books at the end of each session, and easily join the library, if they were not already a member.

A local social services nursery, Disraeli, with a high intake of children with special needs, also offered support through referrals as well as advice on early years' education and suitable activities, toys and books for particular age groups. The local education authority's English inspector provided information on literacy and early years education and an educational psychologist/reading consultant offered to come to a session and work directly with the parents.

Reading Is Fundamental, UK (RIF) was able to give the project access to discounts of up to 50% on books for children to choose and own. In this way, every child attending the sessions has been able to select and keep two free books, enabling them and their parents to continue enjoying reading and learning together in the home environment. RIF project managers have also run storytelling sessions.

The future
Another course at Hanwell Library is now underway and there are plans to run Reading Together in different areas within the borough to make it more accessible to those travelling by public transport. The project appears to have been successful specifically because it was able to attract a range of partners as well as securing the support of local volunteers. Each partner is able to offer a different kind of practical help and expertise. It has also benefited from being focused around a particular aim, which has given the whole scheme a sense of direction and purpose.

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