Developing ways of working with families to support young children early literacy development

What is it about?

In this paper we show how early years practitioners can work with parents to develop and share knowledge and skills about how to support and extend young children’s early literacy in early years settings and in their homes. We take the view that parents’ and children’s literacy are closely linked. The paper describes a way of working in which knowledge is shared to help practitioners to develop ways of working with parents of children under the age of five. In particular we use the ORIM framework to share ideas about creating Opportunities, showing Recognition, sharing Interaction and being a Model of literacy users. This framework for family literacy was adapted to new communities of practice through co-produced research involving 20 practitioners around England. Following an evaluation of work done by 20 practitioners in different parts of England, the paper concludes with a reflection on the usefulness practitioners and parents working together in this way.

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Photo by Picsea on Unsplash

Photo by Picsea on Unsplash

Why is it important?

When early years practitioners share their knowledge and skills about early literacy development this helps parents to further develop their own role in supporting their children's literacy development at home.

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