An early years literacy initiative promoting reading with children from birth to 5 years

Presentation Outline understanding why reading with young children is important explaining Let’s Read outlining what will be happening in your local area

Why is reading important? being literate is a core skill that impacts on the individual’s employment opportunities and quality of life impacts on the prosperity of Australia. Almost half of the adult population in Australia are illiterate or have a poor level of literacy

Why is reading important? Being literate is a core skill that impacts on: the individual’s employment opportunities and quality of life impacts on the prosperity of Australia. Approximately half of the adult population in Australia are illiterate or have a poor level of literacy.

Why is starting early important? The building blocks for learning to read are developed before a child begins school –known as emergent literacy skills. Children who struggle with reading when they get to school are: unlikely to catch up to their peers, more likely to dislike reading, read less, and thus fall further behind.

What is Let’s Read? Let's Read is a universal evidenced based program designed to promote reading aloud with young children birth-5 years. Let’s Read encourages families to have fun reading with their young children, to develop the building blocks that will help children learn to read and write when they get to school.

Philosophy behind Let’s Read Messages best delivered to parents by a trusted community based professional on a one-to-one basis Train and resource a wide range of community based professionals to work with parents Model the activities to promote emergent literacy skills Multi-point early intervention required Age appropriate messages, based on an anticipatory guidance approach Community wide activities are needed to promote early literacy Local partnerships and ownership for sustainability

What makes Let’s Read unique? Based on evidence, national program Aim is to change behavior and literacy levels - not just to provide resources Recognises the importance of community involvement Multi-point intervention One-to-one delivery A partnership approach

Let’s Read is NOT A program designed to teach children to read A group administered program A set of resources that can be used how ever people like

National Picture of Let’s Read 100+ communities nationally State-wide initiative in QLD community professionals trained to have one-to-one interactions with parents Let’s Read website Exploration of CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) and Indigenous needs Research and evidence base

Components of Let’s Read: 1. Community ownership a whole of community commitment lead by a local steering committee. to promote the importance of literacy through existing services and systems to reach as many families as possible to sustain the program for the long term.

2. Training trusted community based personnel Identify the trusted community based professionals and train them to deliver the Let’s Read on a one to one basis including: show and share with families– we learn more when we see and hear provide encouragement to families to have fun reading with their child – not to feel guilty deliver age specific messages – “anticipatory guidance” - from 4 months, 12 months, 18 months and 3½ years

3. Resources for families Reading tip sheets Reading with young children information sheets Book Suggestion Lists DVD Books A reader bag

Reporting / Accountability Each community will be expected to report on the delivery of Let’s Read Guidance will be given about the exact details that will be required. Simple proformas will be provided to support this process. A Community Report will need to be submitted twice a year

Tip sheets Book suggestions Information sheet

For further queries contact: Phone: Mobile: Further Information

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