Friday, September 19, 2008
Letterbox scheme success in developing young readers.
How best to ensure children in care have equal reading opportunities.
There has been plenty of evidence supporting the view that reading to and with children helps them to develop into readers themselves. The government has funded publicity campaigns to encourage Dads to read more to their children after surveys showed less than half of fathers regularly read to their young children. Young parents are now given free books to read with their babies and toddlers.
But what happens to Looked After Children who do not necessarily have someone to read to and with on a daily basis? Looked After Children are also less likely to have access to a range of books at home, their own or belonging to their foster family or Children's Home. The Letterbox scheme attempts to help with this opportunity gap experienced by Looked After Children. The scheme sends parcels of specially chosen books directly to children at their home address on a regular basis. Each parcel contains books chosen to suit the age and ability of each child as well as stationary and games. The scheme has also started to include useful information and offers open to the young person, such as invitations to library and other events.
The scheme has been run by the University of Leicester with nine local authorities as a Pilot scheme with funding from the DCSF. The pilot has proved to be a success and is now to be extended across England.
To participate the local authority needs to register each child in their care. You can find out more by visiting the website.