Engage the family to
engage the child:
Involving families in the Bookstart gifting
process.
Welcome and Agenda
• Bookstart programme development
updates
• Coffee break
• National Bookstart Week
• Good Practice Case Studies
• Break outs and sharing best practice
• Lunch
• External Speaker from Fatherhood
Institute
• Break outs and feedback
Coordinators only:
Programme Updates
New Envelopes and Guidance Booklets
New Additional Needs Pack Envelopes
New Additional Needs Pack Envelopes
Read every day resources
“It has really helped me
because I didn't know that
babies at this small age
would like stories. Now I
know because my baby
loves listening to them.”
(Parent)
Black and white booklet case study
“I have been working with a family where the parents are
both teenagers. In an attempt to engage the young father
before his baby was born, I gave him the Bookstart
'baby’s first shapes' book and explained to him how he
could share it with his new son right from the start.
“I talked about how babies like to look at the black and white
shapes and the faces in the book. His attitude at the time
was 'what a load of rubbish' and I went away fully expecting
the book to go straight in the bin.
“However next time we met, after the baby had been born,
he greeted me with great excitement. He had kept the book
and was now sharing it with his new son. He told me how his
son liked the black spiral best and would stare at it for ages
in wonder. I then watched as Dad weaved his finger round
the spiral, gently telling his baby it was a round, round worm.
“It was so lovely to see the affection between father and son,
smiling and responding together.”
New Bookstart Library Offer
Bear’s Reading Adventure
Bookstart Coordinator Breakouts
Sharing Experiences:
Opportunity to discuss
feedback, best practice,
challenges and anything
you would like more
guidance on about the
Bookstart programmes.
Gifting and
messaging:
Who gifts Bookstart
packs? When do they
gift? How do they gift?
What messaging do
they deliver as part of
this?
Coffee/Tea break and
arrival of other delegates
#bookstart
@booktrust
Welcome and Agenda
• Bookstart programme development
updates
• Coffee break
• National Bookstart Week
• Good Practice Case Studies
• Break outs and sharing best practice
• Lunch
• External Speaker from Fatherhood
Institute
• Break outs and feedback
Book Trust – leading reading charity
Website updates
Three more
storybooks and
a game now
on mobile
Browsable
database of
board and
picture books
Simplified process for a
more useful events area
New concise and familyfriendly ‘About Bookstart’ area
National Bookstart Week
2015
National Bookstart Week 2015
• 409,222 Rumble in the Jungle booklets to
2,331 settings, compared with 383,228
Super Duck booklets to 1,917 settings in
2014.
• Over 48,000 children and 34,500 adults
attended an event
National Bookstart Week 2015
“NBW gives me a great
opportunity to re-emphasise the
Bookstart message, ensure any
new library staff are aware of the
wonderful resources available &
are raising awareness for
families visiting our libraries”
Bookstart Coordinator, South
West
“I look forward to this
celebration each year quality resources that are
much appreciated & an
ideal opportunity to
reinforce a love of reading
&the wonderful work
Bookstart does”
Librarian, West Midlands
National Bookstart Week 2015
“I have been reading the book to
my child, and imitating animal
sounds. I am really pleased
because my child has been
copying me”.”
Parent, West Midlands
“All parents we spoke to
loved the theme & thought
that it really encouraged them
& their little ones to get
involved. Many parents were
more aware of Bookstart & the
messages it seeks to deliver
as a result of NBW.”
Bookstart Coordinator, South
West
National Bookstart Week 2015
• The theme was extremely popular
because it was easy to
operationalise, inclusive &
accessible
• Nearly 100% used the printed
resources & found them useful
• Resources were perceived as “high
quality”, “colourful”, “accessible”,
“age appropriate”, “interactive” &
had a positive impact on the
families and staff
• 65% used the website during NBW
• Colouring in Sheets and Rhyme
Sheets were the most popular online
resources
• 54% signposted parents to the online
resources
• 99% thought the Jungle theme was
‘very good’ or ‘good’, compared with
88% in 2014
And the theme
for 2016 is….
National Bookstart Week 2016
Under the Sea!
Programme updates – Corner
• New envelope to replace the
Corner bag.
• Brand new book title –
Funny Face Sunny Face
Programme updates – Corner
• After listening to feedback we have
changed the amount of resources
centres can order to 10, 25, 50 or
100.
• During the first week of opening
over 15,500 packs were ordered.
• As of last week, we have allocated
just over 39,200 of the 75,000
packs available.
Programme updates – Corner
• This year we are also trialling Bookstart
Corner in other settings.
• We are working with
– Housing associations
– Family Nurse Partnership
– Traveller support
– Military bases
– Specialist Heath Visitors
– Community centres
– And others
• This small pilot will be running until March.
Bookstart Corner case study
Case study from ‘The Family
Experience of Bookstart Corner –
An Evaluation of Bookstart Corner’
The Centre for Research in Education
and Educational Technology, The Open
University
Modu and Halima supported by Sarah
Introducing Modu & Halima
Modu
Modu who was 2 years 4 months, lived
alone with his mum. He did not show great
interest in engaging with books with his
mum and therefore would be left to his
own devices.
Halima
Halima was eager to receive Bookstart
Corner visits as Modu was not responsive
to her efforts to engage him in reading and
writing.
Halima wanted another person’s
perspective on how she was currently
supporting her sons learning.
The Home Visits
• Halima and Modu received three home
visits, with the final session taking place
in the local library.
• At the beginning of the programme,
Halima took a step back from the
activities, leaving the room during part
of the first visit and observing the
practitioner in the second visit
• Sarah felt Halima was feeling under
pressure to ensure her son was
cooperative and offered Halima regular
reassurance.
“I explained again that this
was OK and that
eventually he would
choose to come to look,
as he was interested as
he kept looking towards
our direction.” (Sarah’s
notes after the first visit)
Engaging Halima
“The
visits were non intrusive and I wish Sarah could
come back every week” (Halima)
• Sarah’s patient approach was quickly picked up by Halima.
• Halima noted how this approach had impacted Modu in a positive way and she was
now becoming more involved in the sessions.
• The flexibility of the programme made Halima feel at ease as her schedule often
meant a visit may not have been possible that week.
• The sessions allowed for a positive parent and practitioner relationship to develop.
• This new relationship provided Sarah with a platform to suggest home learning
environment improvements without seeming judgmental.
Impact of the sessions
• The final visit to the library was very useful
for Halima. She had joined during the visit
and had taken Modu there again.
• The influence Bookstart Corner had on both
parent and child had gone beyond the areas
of early reading and literacy development.
She felt they were now playing together more
constructively.
• The way Modu communicated with Halima
also improved and he was much more
responsive when she called his name.
Impact of the sessions
• Halima became more relaxed with her son’s
behaviour and knew he would eventually take
an interest in the activities she was trying to
engage him in.
• Halima lacked confidence when interacting
with her son and appreciated the ideas the
Bookstart Corner sessions had given her.
• Sarah’s personal support had encouraged
Halima to use the children’s centre and was
now attending other sessions.
“The programme has
given me the
confidence to start
just doing things with
him, things that he
likes.” (Halima)
Upcoming research and evaluation:
The role of the Bookstart Baby gifting process in supporting shared reading
The aim of this research is to further develop our understanding of the different
mechanisms through which Bookstart Baby results in behaviour change for
families, related to sharing books.
In short; find out more about what works for whom, and in what contexts?
Evaluation of the additional needs packs – Bookshine, Booktouch and
Bookstart Star
The aims of this evaluation are to:
• enhance our understanding of the benefits of reading for pleasure for children
with additional needs
• enhance our understanding of how our additional needs resources are used
assess the impact that our additional needs resources have on the children who
receive them.
Engaging Parents and
Carers in Gifting Bookstart
Ice Breaker
If I gave a
Bookstart pack
to a family I
would…..
Benefits of engaging the family in Bookstart
•85% of hard-to-reach parents feel
more confident about reading
(Bookstart Corner)
•71% from poorer backgrounds read
books more often with their children
(Bookstart Corner)
•Over 80% of parents who use our
reading advice find it useful
(Baby/Treasure /Corner)
•More than 50% of families who are not already members join libraries
(Bookstart Treasure/Baby)
•31% joined the library for their child for the first time and 17% undertook a
course at their children’s centre (Bookstart Corner)
Sheffield
Grand finale in the Sheffield Peace Gardens
Information on the event
The workshops included:
• A story telling session with the
author Andrew Weale reading ‘A
Quiet Day In the Jungle’
• A rhyme session with a local
musician performing rhymes from
the jungle rhyme sheet
• Book sharing area in library
outreach van, with a picnic blanket
for overspill onto the grass:
– Book sharing
– Voting for your favourite Sheffield
Baby Book Award title
– Rumble In the Jungle booklets to
take away
Sheffield
Information on the event
• ‘Let’s go exploring’ trail of paw prints
•
•
•
•
through the Peace Gardens which led
to the Central Children’s library
Den making, spy glasses and board
books about mini beasts - to
encourage families to look for insects
Activity areas – crocodile castanets,
elephant and lion mask making
Play Session under the parachute –
noises and actions (making it fun)
Zebra and pelican crossing workshop
with the Road safety team
Sheffield
Engagement and targeting
• Event promoted through
multiple channels
• Posters and flyers distributed
around Children’s Centres and
other Early Years settings
• Easily accessible location attracts through traffic and ideal
for engaging families who don’t
normally access library service
• The library outreach van
• Partners
“It was a good event to showcase libraries and the Bookstart
project in Sheffield. It was very visual event, with a huge
number of children and their families and carers there – it
demonstrates how we target borrowers of all ages including the
very young – they are our future.”
Bournemouth
Wriggle and Rhyme on Bournemouth Beach
Information on the event
• Recreated and scaled up a
regular Wriggle and rhyme
session on the beach
• Adapted the session to go
with the theme
• Staff dressed up as tigers
and included some jungle
themed rhymes alongside
the regular favourites
Bournemouth
Engagement and targeting
• Focus was mainly on general promotion
- advertising through libraries to families
who already attend wriggle and rhyme
sessions
• Also through children’s centres and the
local Health Visiting teams - to attract
new families
• Information and leaflets were distributed
at the event about joining the library and
activities at the children’s centre, and
children’s centre staff also attended to
speak to parents
Bournemouth
Partnership working
• Library services allowing staff time to
attend the event and print off publicity
• Bad weather back up facilities
• Strong reciprocal relationships have
been fostered over the last 9 years
• Successful partnership working
because of shared experiences and
attitudes to multi agency/organisation
working – they have common aims and
audiences and are willing to mutually
support each other.
“Because the babies are having such a good time,
there must be a vibe that goes through the air.”
Greenwich
Information on the events
• 49 early years settings held special
story time sessions involving the
parents at pick up
• Rumble at Rhythm & Rhyme
session
• Targeted one to one session
following a Bookstart Corner
session
• Distributed resources through
partners to targeted families:
- Fostering service
- SENDIASS (Special
Educational Needs Information
and Advice Support Service)
Greenwich
Partnership working
• National Bookstart week provided an
opportunity to develop new links with other
services:
• “I was able to build on an informal
conversation with someone in the fostering
service, who had showed interest in our
rhythm and rhyme session and materials,
because National Bookstart Week was
coming up it gave us the opportunity to work
with the fostering team around Bookstart
and reading every day message”
• The coordinator is running Bookstart gifting
sessions with foster families and is now
thinking about how to develop further links
through the Bookstart programme
“It was a lovely event with a national reach – the message was
applied universally yet it could be used to target more vulnerable
families who might struggle with activities we might take for
granted. The resources were a fantastic tool to enable that.”
All events
Advice for running events
• Ensure there are a lot different activities
and visuals for the very young children
and the timings for the activities are
planned well
• Publicise the event: Use the Book Trust
NBW branded empty belly poster and the
Book Trust letter to parents to explain
what NBW is and promote understanding
of why reading is so beneficial to children
• Work with partners (ideally those who
can give ongoing support for continuity):
- Ensure that decision makers are
involved if working with partners
- Enlist as many staff to help as you
can
Breakout
What experience do
you have working with
family members other
than mum?
How do you proactively
promote services to
Dads, grandparents etc
/ try to include them in
home visits?
What challenges have
you faced when trying to
include other members of
the family/carers – how
have you overcome
them?
Messaging
• Sharing books, stories and rhymes is fun
• Read every day with your child/children
• Parents/carers should register their child as a member of the library
• Parents/carers should think about using other services, i.e. children’s
centres
• Visit the Bookstart website via the QR code on the back of the booklet
Ways to communicate messaging
Small and large group settings
where everyone is gathered
together at the same time:
• Direct verbal messaging during a
short concise introduction talk
around the purpose of the event,
followed by positive modelling of
fun with rhymes or stories
• Ideal time just before the event
starts as families are at their
most engaged and receptive
Ways to communicate messaging
Large group settings where families
move around between activities:
• Information stands for families to visit
• Informal chats by library staff in
particular areas e.g. the story corner
area
• Information sheets on the benefits of
reading to babies and children that are
available to pick up and take away
• A trail for families to follow which leads
to a library (or book area etc), to act as
a stepping stone between the event
and the library
• Reading tree – where children can
hang a star (to link in with the summer
reading challenge etc)
• Flyers with information on library and
children's centre services
Ways to communicate messaging
Busy activity sessions:
• Ideal time to focus on modelling
positive behaviours that are fun,
reinforcing this through all the activities
• ‘We focused more on giving families a
really memorable, fun session that
would make them want to come back to
the library in future’
Other implicit messaging:
• Additional books on display – to
demonstrate to families that books are
available to them
• It was all about getting the families to
realise, without actually saying so, that this
resource is available to them
Treasure gifting
Kidz Matter, Oldham
“The parents of the Nursery
children are invited to attend
a short presentation about
'Sharing books with your
child'. The Headteacher also
attends the presentation and
welcomes the parents.”
“The child is
applauded and a
photograph is taken
of each child
receiving their
pack.”
“The purpose of this
Presentation, and the
attendance of the
Headteacher, is to
demonstrate how much
value we place on
reading in the Early Years
and throughout the
school.”
Treasure gifting
Primary School, Barnsley
“The Treasure Bags
have become central
to our home visiting
over many years. They
provide us with the
first book in nursery.”
“The book is on display
in the reading corner and
the children verbalise the
link between home and
school.”
“Whenever children see the
story it reminds them of the
day when nursery came to
see them and how it all
started with a book. It
places book as a focus of
both enjoyment and
learning.”
Read every day Calendars
“I made a large calendar and used it
within the sessions. Parents enjoyed
knowing what would be in each
session. With a colleague, we put
together a programme which we
evidenced based. We also gave out
evaluations at the end of the sessions,
tracked the children and now have a 10
week programme we use. Parents
shared they enjoy using the calendar at
home with their children as they have
gained many ideas they can use from
the sessions.”
Breakout
Bookstart Treasure:
Do you gift Bookstart
Treasure in any different
ways? – in the library? – at
home time? – with a parent
one-on-one? – without
children present?
What are the challenges for
gifting Bookstart Treasure?
Bookstart programmes –
Bookstart Corner /
Bookstart Baby /
Additional Needs Packs:
How do you effectively
communicate messages
to families when gifting?
Lunch
#bookstart
@booktrust
Fatherhood Institute
Breakout
Questions and
reflections from the
day:
What will you do
differently to engage
fathers?
What will you
continue to do?
- What worked well?
- What didn’t work
well?
- What would you
like to see
differently next
time?
Any Questions?
#bookstart
@booktrust
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Book Trust
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80 Silverthorne Road
Battersea
London SW8 3HE
+44 (0)20 7801 8800
query@booktrust.org.uk
Charity number 313343