Gift of books helping to drive improvements in child literacy
Easier access to books through Wirral's Family Hubs is sparking a love of reading and improving literacy levels among the borough's children.
In a report to members of Wirral Council’s Libraries Sub-Committee, the role of book-gifting and other reading schemes at Family Hubs in improving early language skills for Wirral children is being highlighted.
The report asks the Sub-Committee to support the continued growth of these Family Hub initiatives which are helping to improve children’s literacy, especially in some of the borough’s most disadvantaged areas.
One of the initiatives described in the report that members will discuss at their meeting on Thursday 20th November is the Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL).
This scheme, which is delivered in five countries around the world thanks to funding from the Dollywood Foundation, ensures that children in five of the most deprived wards across Wirral are gifted an age-appropriate book every month from birth to age five.
The DPIL is making a difference in those communities already with three out of four primary schools in the Rock Ferry and Birkenhead and Tranmere wards seeing an increased number of children reaching Good Levels of Development in 2024 compared to 2019.
Feedback from families taking part in DPIL report that 73% of parents and carers read to their child every day and 86% of parents are accessing more resources and activities since receiving the books.
The DPIL complements the role Book Start has played in Wirral for a number of years now and which continues to prove popular. Book Start also has its foundations in the gifting of books to children from a very early age to get them and their families starting - and continuing - to read and share stories throughout their childhood and beyond.
Wirral’s libraries work closely with the Children’s Services department to distribute Book Start packs and the report to members explains that more than 180 families across Wirral received them over the last year, with 119 recipients reporting that they now read to their children.
The Family Hubs at Seacombe and St James Centre have in-house libraries already which has resulted in an increase in use of the library services by families in these communities as they attend to access other services and support at the hub.
The report also sets out how Wirral schools have been developing in-house library spaces, with 88 schools now having dedicated libraries for pupils and a further 17 are currently working with the National Literacy Trust to give them access to literature in their school.
