“What NALA knows about who is using Margaret Murray, NALA Family Literacy Conference November 2013

During the first year (7 Sept – 6 Sept. 2013): 66,743 unique visitors 91,092 total visits 26.6% return visits Average visits a week: 1,283 Peak days: 1,302 visits in one day on 27 Feb., 851 visits on 27 May and 894 visits on 11 June.

Monthly and Facebook 822 people signed up for monthly tips by end of the first year likes by end first year since page set up April “Understanding end of school year report card” reached most people, 568 people.

Where do visitors come from? 87.5% Ireland 3% UK, 2.1% USA and 1.6% Australia. Small numbers: India, Canada, Belgium Dublin: more visitors than you would expect, almost 70% (expect 50%) Cork: less visitors than you would expect 5% (expect 20%)

Most visits by town 1.Dublin 2.Cork 3.Limerick 4.Galway 5.Sligo 6.Wexford 7.Leixlip 8.Waterford 9.Naas 10.Dundrum

Most visitors knew of the website 2/3 people (68.1%) of visitors knew what they were going to. They either knew the address or were referred to from another website % got to the website by search. The top three search items were: 1. Maths games 2. Reading and 3. Learning and education games (no mention of maths).

Good for referring people 1.Facebook 2.nala.ie 3.schooldays.ie (resources parents & teachers) 4.education.ie(Dept. of Education & Skills) 5.whatsnew.citizensinformation.ie 6.scoilnet.ie (links, information for teachers, students, parents) 7.npc.ie (National Parents’ Council) 8.earlychildhoodireland.ie 9.T.co (Twitter) 10.seomraranga.com(resources primary school teachers)

Estimates on age and sex Source: Google analytics, less reliable than other statistics here

Type of technology 75.4% desktop 14.3% mobile 10.3% tablet

1/3 of visitors parents 5-7 year olds There are more parents of 5-7 year olds using the website, than you would expect, and less parents of 0-2 year olds. Table below: Age groups as % of all age groups. Compared to CSO figures years33.4%23% 3-4 years20.9%16% 8-9 years16.5%15% years15.5%21% 0-2 years13.7%25% Note: “No Tricks Gran”, word association game and board games most popular.

Requests for bookmarks...links 51 schools requested and received additional promotional material during first year 26 of those were DEIS schools (schools in disadvantaged areas) 22 adult literacy schemes requested and received promotional material 1,355 visits from links on 32 school websites 388 visits from links on 8 County Childcare Committee websites

Three major campaigns “The Family Project” TV series May 2013 Every créche, registered childminder and parent and toddler group, 20 May Survey by County Childcare Committees found 89% of staff had reviewed the website and material at a staff meeting. 68% put link on website and 84% had given out promotional material Every library library day, 11 June 2013www.helpmykidlearn.ie

Who NALA has made presentations to Young Ballymun – Breakfast Buddies NALA / WIT tutor training – Family literacy module AONTAS – Cavan training fair and Dominick Street Youth and Education Centre, Dublin National Parent’s Council Primary - Panel of trainers

Who NALA has made presentations to Libraries – Youth Librarians Home School Community Liaison Co- ordinators (HSCLCs) Cluster – Tallaght HSCLCs – Induction for new staff Anti-natal classes 6 hospitals – Anne O’Neill One Family - Family Day Iveagh Gardens TUI conference

Future work Public Health Nurses Speech and Language Therapists Family / community projects Continue to support family literacy work, and work that focuses on the important role parents and communities can play in building children’s literacy

The need for professionals to bring to parents Use website as a resource for your work Show to colleagues so can recommend Show it to parents, guardians, childminders NALA can send you bookmarks, posters and postcards.

Mention When talking to parents In notes and newsletters during the year On your website In texts, facebook, twitter In s to family and colleagues Note: Balbriggan school is having talks for parents, based on the 5 areas of the website.

Margaret Murray Tel: (01)