The HLE campaign has been designed to encourage parents and carers to chat, play and read more with their children, developing their communication, language and literacy skills before starting school.
Some of the poorest children in the UK start school months behind their peers and the gap can grow through their school years. As a result, children with poor vocabulary skills at age 5 are likely to do less well academically and may be up to twice as likely to be unemployed in their 30s.
The COVID-19 pandemic has made things worse: there has been a rise in the number of children starting school with language skills poorer than would have been expected before.
We want to encourage parents and carers to chat, play and read more with their children to develop their communication, language and literacy skills before starting school. We want to support and empower parents to do more learning and play activities with their children and help overcome the key barriers we know they face, such as lack of time, confidence and not knowing the types of activities that are beneficial. The reality is that these activities take little time, can happen anywhere and can easily be interwoven with daily tasks. And, ultimately, it is as rewarding for parents and carers as it is for their children, also:
- A child’s development begins the moment they are born. The simple activities you do at home or out and about help set them up nicely for school.
- And it’s not just the kids who will enjoy it, you’ll see the benefit too.
- It’s easier than you think. All the little things you do together help your children learn.
- It doesn’t need a set time. You can chat, play or read with your child on the way to nursery, on public transport, while you’re making a meal or even in the supermarket.
- It doesn’t have to cost a penny. You don’t need pricey books or toys.
- And it definitely doesn’t have to feel like ‘learning’!
Useful resources:
- Better Health – Home Learning Environment Hub HLE online hub
- BBC – Tiny Happy People is a BBC service for the parents and carers of the youngest learners. The one-minute, one-message films offer tips and activities for language learning through play, plus films that show babies’ brains develop and why parents are so important to that development BBC Tiny Happy People
- Book Trust- reading tips, activities, story-time videos, book recommendations and more (www.booktrust.org.uk/families-0-5)
- National Literacy Trust – milestones, tips, resources and advice for parents to support their child’s literacy development https://wordsforlife.org.uk/
- Institute of Wellbeing – well-being kits to help parents take care of their family and their mind (Wellbeing Kits – The Institute Of Wellbeing)
- ICAN – support for parents who are worried about their child’s language development (I CAN’s Talking Point)
- Early Years Alliance – practical tips for parents to support their child to learn through play (Family Time Tips – free children’s activities to try | early years alliance (eyalliance.org.uk)
