NEWS FROM THE SECTOR 

Reading levels for children at a 'crisis' point

Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce has warned that the reading levels of young people are at a “crisis point” as he pushed the Government to give every child access to books as a health and wellbeing intervention.

 

An investment in access to books for young children is something we most certainly would welcome, but is that enough to create a culture change? Speaking as an Early Years Practitioner by trade, Our director Rebecca Oberg tells us "I absolutely believe it is our responsibility to encourage our families to read together, to see the value in both the quality time spent together and the introduction to reading. What a powerful statement from Cottrell-Boyce “A child who doesn’t have those early reading experiences will have not just a smaller vocabulary, or less cultural capital, but less chance of being happy". 

 

Maybe the government should invest in enabling access to our place-based initiative, 50 Things to Do Before You're Five?! Not only does it encourage parents to share books with their children in #10, but links books to each and everyone of our activities. 

 

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