© Briony Campbell
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Bookstart is the national programme that encourages all parents
and carers to enjoy books with children from as early an age
as possible. Booktrust aims for every baby in the UK to get
a Bookstart pack. It is estimated that the programme currently
reaches over 90 per cent of babies in the UK.
Bookstart is administered by the national independent charity
Booktrust. It is a public and private partnership and is
sponsored by over 25 children's publishers and Red House
Books. Bookstart is funded by the devolved administrations
in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In England, central
funding is provided by Sure
Start.
The three packs of free books administered at three key
stages of a child's development (at seven months, 18 months
and three years) help fulfil the Bookstart aim: for every
child in the UK to develop a lifelong love of books.
Bookstart began in 1992 in Birmingham with a pilot project
involving 300 babies. Booktrust commissioned Prof. Barrie
Wade and Dr Maggie Moore to undertake research into the
effects of early book-sharing on child development.
Wade and Moore found that Bookstart children began school
with significant advantages and with higher attainment in
all aspects of the pre-school, nine baseline assessments.
Wade and Moore undertook an observational study, in which
parents shared a book with their children of two to three
years, and compared Bookstart families with a non-Bookstart
sample.
- 83% of Bookstart parents read the whole text compared
with 34% of non-Bookstart parents
- 64% talked about the story, compared with only 24%
- 43% encouraged the child to join in, compared with 17%
- 68% encouraged the child to make predictions, compared
with 38%
- 68% of Bookstart children looked at books as one of
their favourite activities, compared with 21% of children
who had not received Bookstart
- 75% of Bookstart parents said they usually bought books
as presents for their children, compared with 10% of parents
who had not received Bookstart
Clara Shields, a mother of two girls aged three and 18
months, from Dunkinfield, Cheshire, has participated in
the Bookstart programme with both her children. She first
heard about Bookstart at her local library and picked up
a pack at her child's clinic. She has since developed a
relationship with the Bookstart representatives.
Helped by the nursery rhyme cards and book recommendations,
as well as the free books, Clara felt she was able to understand
which books were of relevance to her children, and to change
the way she reads to them.
"Reading with your kids is a great
way to bond with them before they start school … it
allows them to get used to sitting down quietly with a book.
Rhymetime sessions at the library have become a family event
for us."
Health visitors value Bookstart as a critical tool in delivering
key messages about bonding, listening skills, early language,
communication skills and, of course, the joy of families
reading together. The programme started as one of the earliest
examples of integrated services for children and families,
and the use of cross-sector working between health and libraries
was way ahead of its time.
Fourteen years on, Bookstart has become a world first,
providing universal access to two million families each
year. Bookstart impacts upon the five key outcomes of Every
Child Matters, the shared priorities, Birth to Three Matters
and the early learning goals of the Foundation Stage curriculum.
The partnership now includes early years professionals,
and Bookstart is increasingly included in Children and Young
Peoples Plans, due to its contribution to targets across
Primary Care Trusts and local authorities.
Every child will benefit from Bookstart,
but of course some families need more support if they are
to maximize the benefit and make the most of Bookstart.
As one health visitor said:
"Some homes have no books at
all. I don't mean no baby books, I mean no books at all,
except for maybe the Argos catalogue.
I used to take along my own board
books to show how babies enjoy sharing books but of course
I could not leave them with the family. It is very hard
to share messages about the importance of book sharing and
early language and then have to take the books back and
know that nothing will change.
Having the free books from Bookstart
means that families can take the message on board and start
enjoying books straight way. I think Bookstart is wonderful."
So how can health professionals give extra support to families
where the Bookstart message may not be readily understood
or acted upon? Here are some suggestions:
- Make sure the message is given along with the pack.
Parents need to talk with you about the importance of
book sharing and they may need encouragement to sit
down and read the guidance materials.
- Make sure you have information about libraries. Invite
families to join and tell them of the benefits, how
families are very welcome and, if possible, reassure
them about issues like fines and damaged books.
- Parents with basic skills needs may find using books
difficult but after receiving a Bookstart pack they
may be receptive to hearing about opportunities for
adult learners. Make sure you have the local contact
names and phone numbers to signpost them towards support.
- Arrange gifting sessions in libraries or other locations
and join in informal learning opportunities like Rhymetimes
or storytelling sessions.
All of these activities will increase parental confidence
and support the work of the Family Reading Campaign.
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