Learning in the home is really important for children and parents play a key role in helping their child to learn and develop new skills.
Books
Books are a good way to support early language development. They can help children learn sounds, letters and words. It's good to start sharing stories, books and rhymes with your child from as early an age as possible. It’s OK to read the same book again and again with your child because familiar books are comforting and build confidence but it’s also good to introduce them to lots of new stories too. Just ten minutes shared reading a day can help your child grow into a happy, confident learner.
Bookstart - gives free books to every child in England and Wales at two key stages before school, as well as free packs for children with additional needs, tips and guidance on reading together, resources and activities, and much more.
Staffordshire Libraries
Reading with your child helps to develop their early literacy and speech and language skills, strengthens your bond with your child and helps to prepare them for school. Children love visiting the library to choose their own books to share with you or other family members at home.
Staffordshire libraries have a huge range of picture books, books for children who are beginning to read and audio books to borrow and e-audio books to download at home or on the go.
Staffordshire libraries offer free storytelling sessions to help encourage a love of a wide range of stories. Stories style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: black;"> are read aloud and afterwards children can get creative in a craft activity that relates to the story they listened to. Check out what sessions are running at your local library
Stoke on Trent Libraries
Stoke libraries offer the following:
- Free library membership – New customers can join the library online
- The library has board books and picture books to borrow and share, including dual language books
- A sensory room at City Central Library – free for library members to book and use
- Enquiry service, including signposting to other services
- Bookstart Treasure packs for all children in Nursery, including dual language books and additional needs packs – delivered by libraries working with schools
- Little Library Van visits to early years and community settings
- Stoke Reads 25 Reads reading challenge for children aged 0-5
- Free eBooks and eAudiobooks for children
Family Hubs
Your local Family Hub is a virtual space where you can find advice, support and connect with others in your area. They offer a range of information, support and advice for families at a local and county level communicated mainly through the Family Hub Facebook pages
We also have produced a wealth of in-house support which has been created by the Early Years Coordination team. In includes topics such as Family Hub Cooking, Family Craft Hub, Community Crates Fun and School Readiness to support your child’s learning and development within the home.