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12Nov2010
Filling in the gaps

Posted by Jonathan Douglas

Many policy areas in the Coalition agreement need to be developed in more detail. One of our key tasks at the moment is lobbying to ensure that as this policy is developed, it takes into account the needs of the one in six people in this country who face inequalities because of their literacy skills.

Last month, with this in mind, we went to see Frank Field who is conducting a review of life chances and poverty. The review was commissioned by Number 10 in June. We were particularly interested that the terms of reference contained an explicit commitment to “explore how a child’s home environment affects their chances of being ready to take full advantage of their schooling”. We know that the impact of the home learning environment is massive and is the foundation of all literacy.

We had an excellent meeting. We argued that the intergenerational pattern of low literacy skills suggests that the issue is embedded in behaviour and attitudes in some communities, and that addressing it requires imagination and a sustained approach, which public policy fluctuations and the democratic cycle mitigate against.

It is to be hoped that the commitment to the eradication of poverty operates beyond political boundaries. If the Field review creates an analysis and approach which can be accepted by the three parties and if we can lodge literacy as a key ingredient of social fairness and social mobility in this, then we could have the foundations of a medium-term strategy which could make a significant difference to the national literacy challenge.

Last week the Department for Education published its business plan, explaining how it would target the resources which it agreed with the Treasury in the Spending Review. The fact that the development of a strategy based on the Field review is a specific target is very welcome news.

Another area of policy development which we will be addressing in the coming months is the concept of the Big Society.

The National Literacy Trust is currently working with 21 local authorities on Partners in Literacy, a programme to mobilise community services and community resources to address literacy. In many authorities this means traditional literacy services (schools, settings, libraries and colleges) working with services (for instance health and social housing) who might not see literacy as their core business but have a strong reach in the communities which most need literacy support. This also means creating networks of literacy volunteers within the community and recognising that the skills to develop new approaches to supporting literacy are already there in communities themselves. We believe that the Big Society concept offers a valuable framework for describing this approach. As the policy is developed we will be arguing for the inclusion of literacy.

The nature of coalition government is that policy development is more gradual and organic. This offers us an opportunity. The thinking, research and projects of the National Literacy Trust can make a substantial contribution to the development of the new government’s approach to social policy. In helping to fill in the policy gaps we are realising that we have a crucial role to play.

5 Comments

Andrew Church replied on 16 Nov 2010 at 11:13

As a social housing provider, we have taken a keen interest in our tenants' literacy (and numeracy). We developed a good partnership with a local further education provider, which enabled home tuition in both literacy and numeracy. This overcame issues around access (transport, caring responsibilities) and self-exclusion (low confidence, previous poor experiences of education). It made a big different to a lot people, particularly parents who said they got more involved in their children's homework. Sadly, the provision has ended because of spending cuts. I'd be interested to hear about similar models of provision - which you hint at in your blog. Thanks.
gwynflowers replied on 16 Nov 2010 at 11:14

Children's Centres, and particularly those who also have perinatal services can be used to promote the importance of parent child interaction and literacy from the very earliest age.
Emily.McCoy replied on 24 Nov 2010 at 09:51

Hi both,

I manage the Trust's work to promote partnerships which support literacy across local areas. This work is called Partners in Literacy and you can read more about it via our pages on this website.

Andrew, it's great to hear that as a social housing provider you are involved in supporting literacy. Through our work we know that partners in housing are coming through as a really strong link to people who want to improve their skills. And of course Children's Centres are hubs of this locally too.

Obviously cuts in provision mean we need to think creatively about how to improve literacy. In many of the authority areas we work with, people are finding that signposting to support is only part of the solution. This is not only to do with cuts in provision but also reflects that for some people, formal services are a "bridge too far." Often what people want is information and support where they are - perhaps from front line staff or from a volunteer in the community. This clearly as implications for issues like capacity and training and these are the kinds of challenges which we are considering with local areas as part of our work.

I wondered if either of you would be interested to learn more by coming to our event next Weds, 1 December where we will be showcasing some of the local solutions to these issues. You can find out more via our Events page.

In addition you can read more about Partners in Literacy here www.literacytrust.org.uk/partners_in_literacy

Thanks for your comments, it's great to hear from you.

Emily McCoy
Manager, Partners in Literacy
National Literacy Trust
jus replied on 24 Nov 2010 at 09:51

The Children's Centre I work in like gwynflowers mentioned carries out services to support the local community, such as PEEP (Peers Early Education Partnership) the parent and child can experience it together. I used to work alongside one of the outreach workers when I wasn't as busy in my room. We encouraged and supported the parents to realise that talking to your baby from a young age and singing can be a lovely thing to share with your child. Although I work within the baby room I know to help support literacy and language, children have to have the opportunity to experience a rich language environment. However the parent needs to have the confidence to come into the setting, this is a major part of the battle. The Centre also holds self confidence courses and feel good courses which all seem to be helping our local community.
Lucy.Kitchener replied on 1 Dec 2010 at 09:43

Hi,

I'm the Partners in Literacy Coordinator in Wiltshire. I work closely with several Housing Associations and an organisation offering floating housing-related support to explore how support for literacy and signposting to literacy providers fits. Our agreement is that Housing Associations have a vested interest in literacy as the key skill which underpins supporting tenants with their social and economic lives.

I have delivered 2 training sessions raising awareness of literacy for Housing Asoociation staff recently where all the participants identified that the clients they work do have literacy issues. Front-line staff are already supporting their tenants with basic help such as form-filling, understanding post etc but don’t signpost on because they don’t know what’s available locally. Some processes ask tenants directly whether they need help with reading and writing but don’t do anything with this information. This training is for front-line housing staff to support adults or families with low or poor literacy through advice and guidance, support to improve attitudes, behaviours and skills and signposting to local services.

The training has made a considerable difference to the confidence and knowledge of those who attended. Already I have been asked to attend a resident's workshop style session to model what input around improved literacy could look like there.

I am replicating this training in the next couple of weeks for another Housing Association.

The aim is that this kick-starts a process to look practically at how and where support for literacy fits within certain roles and what the impact of this is on families.

Because this initiative is time-limited, this work is about thinking creatively and embedding support for literacy within roles and strategically in order to sustain change in practice.

I hope that gives you a bit more flavour of the partnerships we are developing in Wiltshire.

Lucy Kitchener.
Partners in Literacy Coordinator, Wiltshire.