These activities and events aim to improve children’s access to high-quality engaging books before starting school, which can make a big difference to their school experience and outcomes. We run storybook reading groups, parent book clubs and summer schools to help children and their families to get involved with books from early in life. We also run research projects to find out what are the best ways to encourage a love of reading and to enhance children’s reading skills. Find out more:
Whitley Wood Playgroup
The Whitley Wood Playgroup initiative was funded by the Research England Participatory Research Fund. Our team worked collaboratively with parents and other community leaders to co-create storybook sessions for parents and children under 5 in the Whitley Wood area.
Multilingualism as a protective factor
The project explores why children who speak English as an Additional Language (EAL) seem to show a smaller disadvantage gap than children who speak only English.
Participatory research project
This project involved working with parents, headteachers, teachers, and other community leaders to co-create a summer school for children before they started compulsory education.
Parent book club
The research team ran a book group for parents in the Whitley area to promote a love of reading. The group met once a month to discuss a book that they had chosen.
Storybook reading
Children listened to a trained story reader read a book and took part in fun activities such as singing and craft. Parents were able to read the story to their child as well to become familiar with it.