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National Literacy Trust launches new initiative to support early years practitioners
2 Sep 2008
The National Literacy Trust today launches Early Reading Connects, a new initiative designed to support early years practitioners in encouraging a love of stories and reading among the children in their care and their families. www.earlyreadingconnects.org.uk
Based around the four guiding themes of the Early Years Foundation Stage, Early Reading Connects brings together easy-to-access resources and great ideas from a wide range of early years organisations, settings and practitioners to help practitioners to:
• encourage a love of language, stories and reading with the babies, toddlers or young children in their care
• engage and involve the children’s families in this process
• share good practice and resources and build their confidence in supporting the children and their families
Joining Early Reading Connects is free. Practitioners are given a copy of the Early Reading Connects family involvement toolkit and membership of a network of practitioners from the full range of settings to help them share ideas and solve problems. The approach draws on the experience and expertise of Reading Connects, the hugely successful initiative for schools that has been running for five years. Rebecca Green, project manager for Early Reading Connects says: “The recent Bercow review has highlighted the need for action when it comes to supporting children, and their families, to give them the best foundations for language and literacy development. To meet this need the National Literacy Trust has developed Early Reading Connects, which is based on the principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage. We are really excited to launch this project and look forward to building a national network of practitioners.”
Marilyn Joyce, senior director of communication, language and literacy at The National Strategies said:
“Practitioners know that parents want to do their best for their children, but in the case of reading, some may feel unsure of how they can help, or how they can add to what they are already doing. Early Reading Connects provides practitioners with a wealth of practical ideas so they can confidently develop their work in helping families to encourage a love of books.”
Andrew Fletcher, director of communications for The National Childminding Association said:
“Literacy and communication are crucial areas of child development, and we know that registered childminders and nannies are uniquely placed to support language, literacy and creativity in the children they care for, that is why NCMA is supporting the Early Reading Connects project.
Early Reading Connects is delivered by the National Literacy Trust on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families.
Ends
Early Reading Connects
Following the success of the Reading Connects initiative, which helps schools build communities that read, the National Literacy Trust has developed Early Reading Connects to support those working with under-fives.
Early Reading Connects is delivered by the National Literacy Trust on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families. The project and the toolkit have been developed with the continuing support of the following organisations:
Booktrust
Department for Children, Schools and Families
Elizabeth Jarman Ltd
The Museums Libraries and Archives Council
National Childminding Association
National Day Nurseries Association
National Strategies – Early Years Foundation Stage
NIACE/Basic Skills Agency
Parents as Partners in Early Learning
Peers Early Education Partnership (PEEP)
The Pre-School Learning Alliance
