By Gavin Mackintosh-
WHSmith and a range of organisations are launching a scheme supported by the Department Of Education and the Children and Families minister to boost early literacy in the Uk
Representatives from eight organisations including the Lego Group, Clarks, EasyPeasy, HarperCollins, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), British Land, Oxford University Press and KPMG attended the roundtable, led by the National Literacy Trust’s Chief Executive Jonathan Douglas, the next step in the Government’s campaign to tackle concerning rates of early literacy and communication among disadvantaged families. It builds on the Education Secretary Damian Hinds’ ambition set out in July last year to halve the proportion of five-year-olds not meeting expected standards in these skills by the time they finish Reception.
The support will range from book swaps in supermarkets and author ambassadors, to special training for staff in shoe shops.Oxford University Press and HarperCollins are among businesses joining a round table discussion chaired by Children and Families Minister, Nadhim Zahawi , added to almost 100 businesses, charities and public sector organisations who coming together to tackle the ‘last taboo’ in education, the home learning environment.
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A wide range of professionals comprising an advisory panel will make up the formidable team determined to significantly raise the standard of literacy in the Uk which will also impact on the already higher standard of education across the Uk. With many adults in the Uk shamefully unable to read and write properly, this new project will guarantee a much higher percentage of literate and educated adults in the generations to come. It is a brilliant move to be welcomed.
There are hundreds of educational apps on the market for parents to choose from when supporting their children’s learning using mobile phones or tablets, but insufficient advice about their quality. The Department for Education will tackle this by bringing together a new advisory panel to assess existing apps, producing tips and guidance for parents on how to use them to aid their child’s learning, and to help them make informed decisions about which have the most educational value.
lPedges from businesses already signed up include Clarks, where its 6,500 staff will be trained in children’s speech, language and communication development and how to engage with families in stores across the country.
HarperCollins will also drive a love of reading through author ambassadors, book donations and grants for independent bookshops to support events targeted at children under five and their parents. Addo Foods will also be supporting its employees with children aged 0 to five to use its language lab facilities at its Nottingham headquarters to encourage improved communication skills.
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Child And Families Minister: Nadhim Zahawi said:
Children and Families Minister Nadhim Zahawi said:
”We want to create a generation of confident learners who can read and communicate effectively – these are vital skills that children need to grasp from the earliest opportunity in order to succeed.
There’s no instruction manual for being a parent. For some who left school a long time ago or who have low confidence in their own abilities, it can be overwhelming to know where to start with supporting children’s learning at home before they start school – and we know that too many children are arriving at school already behind their peers.
By working with a growing number of businesses, charities and experts, we’re making it easier for parents to kickstart this early development – helping to take forward our national mission to boost children’s early development. New projects are being set up all over the country and our expert panel will create trusted tools that parents can be confident using, so that every child develops the skills they need to thrive”.
WHSmiths have also vowed to support literacy programmes in Swindon, where there are high levels of illiteracy, including bringing parents into nurseries to help advise on how to support their child’s literacy and language development.
British Land and Penguin Random House – working together to provide high-quality children’s books for bookswap schemes launching in three British Land retail sites, building on British Land’s work to reach more than 34,000 primary school children to improve their literacy.
Olivia has over 15 years’ experience in children’s and educational digital media, across Amazon, the BBC, Nickelodeon, Hopster, Discovery Education and Sky Kids. Specialising for a while in pre-school and early years, including an MA in Early Childhood, she now freelances as a digital consultant. She is a member of the executive group in charge of events at The Children’s Media Foundation, and also volunteers for the Let Toys Be Toys campaign, growing their school resources and corporate training
Professor Jackie Marsh, Chair of the advisory panel, said:
I am delighted to take on the role of Chair of the panel on early years, language, literacy and communication apps. Young children are immersed in a digital world from their earliest years and have access to many apps on tablets and smartphones.
There is a need to identify the features of high quality apps that support their learning and to offer parents, carers and teachers guidance on how to select and use apps effectively. The government has rightly identified this as a priority and I look forward to working with the members of the panel on undertaking this important task.
ADVISORY PANEL
Leading the strong pack of the advisory panel is Professor Jackie Marsh, a prolific author who lectures at the University of Sheffield. Olivia has over 15 years’ experience in children’s and educational digital media, across Amazon, the BBC, Nickelodeon, Hopster, Discovery Education and Sky Kids. Specialising for a while in pre-school and early years. Boasting an MA in Early Childhood, she now freelances as a digital consultant. She is also a member of the executive group in charge of events at The Children’s Media Foundation, and also volunteers for the Let Toys Be Toys campaign, growing their school resources and corporate training.
Prolific Author: Prof Olivia Dickinson Executive Director Of Technology Company: Antonio Gould Image: Twitter
Image: Children’s Media Foundation
Also on the panel are a list of educational heavyweights. They include Peter Robinson: Global Head of Research and Company Director of Dubit Limited, specialising in digital entertainment and education for children. Antonio Gould, an Executive Director of Teach Monster Games, a not-for-profit education technology company responsible for the ‘Teach Your Monster To Read’ app, boasts a monthly reach of more than one million childre.
Dr Rosie Flewitt: Co-Head of Research, Department of Learning and Leadership at UCL Institute of Education and Co-Director of the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Pedagogy, with 20 years’ experience in early communication, literacy and language research;
Sandra Mathers: a former primary teacher and now Senior Researcher at the University of Oxford, with expertise in child learning and development, including the ways in which this can be supported through technology.
Dr. Rosie Flewett Image: UCL Head Of Programme Development At Save The Children: Jane Lewis
Others include Jonathan Douglas: Director of the National Literacy Trust, responsible for the Trust’s ‘Literacy Apps’ resource for parents and teachers, and a key advocate of the Government’s work to improve the Home Learning Environment; and
Jane Lewis: Head of Programme Development and Quality at Save the Children UK. She is responsible for programme development and innovation, focused on the home learning environment and supporting parents’ engagement in their children’s early education.
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