A nursery library has turned parents at Little Stars Day Nursery, Grimsby, into avid readers and greatly improved the outcomes for their children since it was set up last April.
The 77-place nursery, owned by the Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education, is used by students, Institute staff and other local parents, all of whom have welcomed the initiative.
The library was developed in association with Bookahead, a national initiative that aims, through public libraries, to provide early years settings with collections of books (see box). In all, Little Stars received about 100 books for children across the nursery age range.
'The library has greatly improved outcomes for children,' says nursery manager Tracy Bennett. 'It's fostered a love of books and helped develop their language.'
As for parents, she adds, 'The project has been a great asset to our working parents and carers who do not always have the time to make a special journey to their local library. They can also change books far more often, sometimes on a daily basis.
'It has had a huge impact in providing special time for parents and carers in not only choosing books to take home, but staying in nursery and reading a book or two together on the sofa in our reception area.'
SUPPORT AND ADVICE
The library is just one of the initiatives that the nursery has developed as part of its commitment to supporting the families that use the nursery. 'We pride ourselves in on our excellent parent/carer relationship,' says Tracy.
The library has now been extended to offering additional bags to families, with this part of the project attracting money under the Government's SEAD initiative, which focuses on the Social and Emotional Aspects of Development.
On offer are two types of bag. The first offers advice and support on everyday subjects such as potty training, behaviour, sleeping and healthy dinners and teas. For example, the bag on potty training includes both advice sheets and children's stories with a potty training theme.
The second set contains activity resources for children and their parents to share together, on themes such as music, singing and rhyme, art and craft, and growing.
Enclosed within each of the bags are two books - one in which parents can write their tips and advice for other parents, and a further book in which they can write their comments on the bag itself, feedback that the nursery will use to evaluate the project.
'It's been brilliant,' says Tracy. 'The bags have really taken off, and we want to offer more as we're already having to double up the arts and craft and music bags.
'They help parents learn about child development and with many of our parents being single parents, the bags help them work together and share ideas.'
Little Stars Day Nursery received a Highly Commended in the Nursery World Awards 2009,Working With Parents category
BOOK AHEAD
Book Ahead, an initiative by the Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), supplies children's books to early years settings, with the aim of developing an enjoyment of reading in young children and strengthening links between settings and their local public and school library services. Half a million books were bought for the scheme from specially commissioned booklists. For details, visit: www.bookahead.org.uk.