Parents as Partners in Education

All parents have a greater responsibility towards their child's education. We aim to help parents recognise their role in the early development of their child, by using Usborne books, games, kits and jigsaws to further that development.
Children today learn in an environment which combines teaching with regular testing and parents feel that they should be giving their children as much help as possible. Fortunately for children and parents, Usborne books are designed not only to help children learn, but also to entertain' amuse and inspire. So parents and children can discover and enjoy the world of Usborne together.
 

Bookstart: Books for Babies

Research agrees that introducing books to babies at an early age helps support children’s reading and interest in books. Early years initiatives in the UK have used research based evidence to support parents’ involvement with their children’s learning.

Bookstart 2000
The 0-2s have become a focus with the recent extension of the Bookstart initiative. Funded by Sainsburys, and costing £6 million, Bookstart will give away at least a million books and parent advice packs over two years from its launch in January 1999. By the year 2000, every 9 month-old baby should have received two free books. Bookstart was devised and trialled by Book Trust to encourage parents to share books with their babies after research showed clear advantages on starting school amongst children who had been introduced to books from an early age,  the bookstart children performed noticeably better in all categories of the Baseline assessment indicating that it has a positive effect on numeracy as well as literacy.

Additional Information

• The first two years of a baby’s learning are crucial (TES 24/9/99)
• Early learning Goals avoids setting targets (TES 8/10/99)

Reading Is Fundamental

Reading Is Fundamental (RIF,UK). Funded by Tate and Lyle and run by the National Literacy Trust. This US-inspired scheme helps children to grow and love books by distributing books to parents and children at no cost to themselves. It aims to strengthen the role of parents, inviting parents to be involved in RIF activities and encouraging reading at home. RIF wishes to particulary focus on early years to bridge the gap between Bookstart and school. RIF, UK helps local communities invest in reading and in so doing create new generations of readers. Projects are also based in schools and the voluntary and community sector. There are over 300 projects nationally and this figure is continuing to expand. Usbourne books at Home supports RIF ask your Organiser for suggestions and tips for Summer Time Reading for Families.
 

Base Line Assessment

The 'Learning Outcomes' are the guidelines for early years development. All children are now observed during their first term to assess their abilities in six key areas.

• Personal and Social Development

• Language and Literacy.

• Mathematics

• Knowledge and Understanding of the World

• Physical Development

• Creative Development.

This Assessment  for five-year-olds have been introduced by the government to develop teachers’ knowledge of new pupils and to measure their progress better. It should enable schools to show children's progress and help children with special educational needs much earlier. (see Early Learning Goals)   Some people feel that it would be more efficient for young children to concentrate on ‘learning to learn’ and developing their social skills rather than test children of 4 in reading, writing and mathematics. According to Professor Colin Blakemore, "Such skills can only have come from parental instruction. The testing will directly disadvantage children from less supportive backgrounds."

Awards   -   Reviews

For futher information or to order books E-mail: christine@e-kidsbooks.co.uk