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.

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.

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.

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.

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.