 |
Birth to Three Matters is a framework
of effective practice to support staff working with children
under three. One of the four aspects, A Skilful Communicator,
covers Being Together as a sociable and effective communicator;
Finding a Voice to become a confident and competent language
user; Listening and Responding appropriately to the language
of others; and Making Meaning to understand others and be
understood. Visit www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/
Birth to Three Matters has been incorporated into the Early Years Foundation Stage which is statutory from September 2008. Information on the Early Years Foundation Stage
Bookstart, the world's first national
baby book-gifting programme, works through health visitors
to provide every baby in the UK with a free Bookstart pack
of books and guidance materials that encourage use of the
local library. In July 2005 the scheme was expanded to offer
three separate gifts of books to under-fours across the country.
General
information on Bookstart
or visit www.bookstart.org.uk
Early Start is a Basic Skills
Agency programme aimed at parents and carers with no or few
qualifications. It provides at least 30 hours of support for
each learner, focusing on helping children be healthy, self-aware,
skilful communicators and confident learners. Read more about Early Start or visit
www.basic-skills.co.uk
Every Child a Talker is a £40 million government programme to provide training and support to those working with young children on early years language development. The programme aims to improve practitioners' knowledge and understanding, enable them to support the development of children's speaking and listening skills and spot any children with problems at an early age. Read the DCSF press release at www.dfes.gov.uk
Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) programme is being piloted in 10 PCTs in England from April 2007 and is part of the Health-led parenting support. The project works with young, vulnerable mothers and provides intensive support and regular home visiting from the early stages of pregnancy until the child is two. It is based on the Nurse Family Partnership scheme, which has been running for over 25 years in the US with proven positive short and long-term results including better preparation for school and improved health. Each PCT will identify 100-150 families with each practitioner taking on a caseload of around 25 mothers. Training will be provided to practitioners, who will all be health visitors, nurses, or midwives, to deliver a programme in the scheduled visits. The programme is designed to be flexible so it can be adapted and meet the needs of each individual family taking part. The pilot project will link in with children's centres to integrate with the local services provided. The project is being funded by the DCSF until March 2008, and is being evaluated by Birbeck College, London. For more information visit www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/parents/healthledsupport/
Nurse Family Partnership Programme - First Year Pilot Site Implementation in England: Pregnancy and the post Partum period - independent research by University of London, Birkbeck
News update: More Family Nurse projects announced
News: Nurse Family partnership - prevention as the cure
Flying Start is an initiative targeting children in disadvantaged areas providing childcare for two-year-olds alongside extra health visiting and support for parents. It also includes an extension of the Books for Babies programme and the Language and Play scheme.
Language and play is a programme
run by the Basic Skills Agency in Wales to give information
to parents and carers of 0-3 year olds on communication, language,
literacy and play. Visit
www.basic-skills-wales.org
Peers Early Education Partnership
(PEEP) supports parents and carers in their role as children's
first and most important teachers, offering ideas and activities
to support children's learning in everyday situations. Visit www.peep.org.uk
The Birth to School Study: A Longitudinal
Evaluation of the Peers Early Education Partnership (PEEP)
1998-2005 was published in August 2005. Read a summary of the findings
Speaking, listening, learning,
produced in partnership by the Qualifications and Curriculum
Authority and the Department for Education and Skills, provides
cross-curricular objectives for speaking and listening in
Years 1 to 6. Order from DCSF Publications on 0845 60 222
60.
Storysacks is a popular,
non-threatening way of encouraging parents and carers to start
sharing stories with their children, especially those parents
with little positive experience of books. Read more about Storysacks or visit www.storysack.com
Parliamentary
debate: 'Language development in 0-3 year olds' (21.101.04)
|
|
80px.gif)
.gif)
