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Early years literacy support
Early Words Together
Early Words Together is a targeted programme which
identifies and engages parents and families with children
aged two to five in need of literacy support.
Benefits
1. Improves children’s early literacy and communication
to increase school readiness
2. Improves parental engagement and the home learning
environment
3. Provides volunteering opportunities and skills
development in the local community
Key details
• Timing: Six week programme of sessions
• Delivery: Delivered by volunteers. The National Literacy
Trust provides resources and training for the volunteers
to empower families to support their children to develop
a love of books, stories, rhymes, songs and conversation
• For whom: Families with children aged two to five
targeted via Early Home Learning Indicators
• Location: The programme has been successfully
delivered across a range of settings, including Children’s
Centres, schools, places of worship, Housing
Associations etc.
• Activities: Rhymes, songs, games, mark making, crafts,
story props, sharing books, comics, creative stories,
visits to the local library etc.
• Cost: £3,500 for resources and training to deliver the
programme to 100 families
“Some activities, such as ‘Early Words Together’,
focus very specifically on promoting children’s
communication and language development, and
tracking shows that good progress is being made.”
Ofsted Report, Staffordshire: Lichfield District Group,
May 2014
90% parents
would recommend
the programme
“I learnt the importance of speaking with my
daughter. We now enjoy reading different books
and communicating better.”
Parent
‘These sessions have been invaluable. Nathan has
changed so much. His speech is better and he has
started to point to show me things, i.e. bus, cars,
flowers etc. He is better around other children
now. I am a lot happier.’
Parent
Visit www.literacytrust.org.uk/ewt for more information.
To deliver Early Words Together in your school, contact
ewt@literacytrust.org.uk.
Watch a short video showing the benefits of
Early Words Together at http://vimeo.com/114668301
Join the network or sign up for our free e-newsletter at www.literacytrust.org.uk/register 13