Bookstart
for babies & children
Bookstart is the national programme that encourages all parents
and carers to enjoy books with children from as early an age as
possible.
We want every child in the UK to develop a lifelong love of
books. Working through locally-based organisations, Bookstart gives
the gift of free books to babies & children at around eight
months, 18 months (Bookstart+) and three years (My Bookstart
Treasure Chest), along with guidance materials for parents and
carers.
Bookstart also aims to foster a love of books through a range of
fun activities. But Bookstart packs are only half of the gift to
children and their families. The other, more lasting gift, is the
message of enjoying books together.
“Bookstart is a beautifully simple idea. Giving books to small
children helps them develop confidence and gives them a curiosity
about life and eagerness to learn. It is an excellent example of
local services working together to support their
communities”
David Lammy, Minister for Culture
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Bookstart is for every baby – that is its appeal. Booktrust aims
for every baby in the UK to get a Bookstart pack. It is estimated
that the programme currently reaches 90 per cent of babies in the
UK, and we’re working hard to fill the gaps. Any baby that has not
received a pack at their 7-9 month health check because there is no
scheme operating in their area is eligible for a free pack from
Booktrust. Bookstart+ and My Bookstart Treasure Chest were launched
recently in England and are expanding.
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The programme is based on partnership. It is co-ordinated
nationally by the independent educational charity Booktrust.
Schemes throughout the UK order materials through Booktrust and
distribute packs locally.
These schemes are usually co-ordinated by the library service,
but sometimes by local education or health services:
- Usually, health services gift the Bookstart baby pack to babies
before they are one year old during health checks.
- Bookstart+ is gifted to toddlers through health checks and
library gifting parties
- My Bookstart Treasure Chest is gifted to three year olds at
early years’ settings.
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Sharing books with babies and toddlers is a wonderful way to
increase language skills and helps children to understand their
world. The first five years are the best time for learning to talk
and most of a child's language comes from the adults around them.
Babies and toddlers who love books begin reading sooner and have a
better chance at school.
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- The first Bookstart pack is usually delivered to families by
health visitors at babies' 7-9 month health contact.
- Bookstart+ is gifted by health visitors at 2 year health
contact or is gifted at the local library.
- My Bookstart Treasure Chests are distributed via early years’
settings such as nurseries and playgroups.
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In research by Wade and Moore, ‘KS1 SATs results include teacher
assessments in English, Maths and Science. Mean scores show that
the Bookstart group was superior on each of these assessments’ (A
Sure Start With Books, Wade and Moore, May 2000)
Wade and Moore (2000) compared a group of Bookstart children of
2-3 years with a sample of non-Bookstart children and found:
- 68% of Bookstart children looked at books as one of their
favourite activities (21% for non-Bookstart).
- 75% of Bookstart families said they bought books as presents
for their children (10% for non-Bookstart).
- 83% of Bookstart families read the whole text compared with
only 34% of non-Bookstart families.
- 64% talked about the story, compared with only 24%.
- 43% encouraged the child to join in, compared with only
17%.
- 68% encouraged the child to make predictions, compared with
38%.
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In October 2005 the programme extended to include two more free
new packs: Bookstart+ for toddlers and My Bookstart Treasure Chest
for pre-school aged children. By early 2006 every authority in
England had signed up to deliver all three Bookstart packs
throughout their authority. The two new packs complement the
established Bookstart pack that babies receive in their first
year.
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The Bookstart programme is delivered through a multi-agency,
public/private partnership. It is supported by funds from the Sure
Start Unit in England and via the devolved administrations in
Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. As a charity, Booktrust has
built sound relationships with all materials and service suppliers,
often purchasing items for the packs at low cost or at cost price.
This is especially the case with our children's publishers. In
addition, the bookseller Red House Books has committed to support
Bookstart for a further three-year period.
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In addition to over 4,000 libraries, 12,000 health visitors,
government sponsors and over 14 publishers involved in Bookstart,
Booktrust consults with numerous organisations such as the DCMS,
Department for Education and Skills (DfES), the Basic Skills
Agency, the Community Practitioners and Health Visitors Association
(CPHVA) and the Chartered Institute of Library and Information
Professionals (CILIP).
There is also a Library Working Group, Health Professionals
Working Group and multi-agency steering committee providing
guidance to the national programme.
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The current level of support from the book trade has a retail
value of £5.6 million per annum. This support will increase to
approximately £19.6 million per year when every child is receiving
Bookstart+ and My Bookstart Treasure Chest.
All other component parts are also purchased at low cost. This
effectively means that every £1 of actual funding for Bookstart
delivers approximately £4 worth of retail value. For example, £10
million equates to approximately £40 million in value.
The retail value of the programme for the next three years is
approximately £120 million. This is further enhanced by the
professional delivery of the programme via the public services of
Culture, Education and Health.
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