More than a literacy programme—Bookbug is building families

Bookbug Assertive Outreach

scottishbooktrust.com

Bookbug programme • Encourages parents and

children to share books together from birth

• Bookbug bags• Gaelic, Scots• Additional support needs• Bookbug Sessions• Library Challenge

• Every local authority and health board in Scotland

• Funded by the Scottish Government

Bookbug Sessions

• Bookbug Sessions include books, songs and rhymes

• Gives parents ideas on how to use their Bookbug bags

• Encourage bonding and interaction between parent and child

• Held in libraries and other community venues

• Free

Over 23,000 Bookbug Sessions took place in 2014-15

Aims of Assertive Outreach• To give professionals the tools, through a variety of training

courses, to help them ensure that books, songs and rhymes and stories are part of every baby and young child’s life

• To support families who may face additional social and geographical barriers to participation

• To create networks within local authority areas so that professionals and volunteers can collaborate to provide a consistent circle of support for harder to reach families

• To encourage parents and carers to take advantage of other Early Years programmes in their area, including attendance at public Bookbug sessions

Assertive Outreach in Action• Steering Group decides which training is best for their area

• Individuals from the authority, third sector, and NHS are identified to undertake the chosen training

• SBT staff present the programme at local team meetings to engage with front line staff

• A tailored training model is developed for the authority

• SBT provides the training and the resources to deliver Bookbug for the Home sessions free of cost to the authority

• The programme is reviewed quarterly and re-focussed if necessary based on feedback from the Steering Group and trainees

Training Options

Bookbug for the Home Training• One-to-one Bookbug sessions for professionals and

volunteers working with families in their own home or small group community settings

• Brings the benefits of Bookbug to families that might not access Bookbug sessions otherwise, in a flexible, easily adaptable way.

Bookbug Awareness Sessions for Health Staff• Support effective gifting of the Baby and Toddler bags• Provide health staff with accessible information to pass on

to parents

Bookbug for the Home Resource Kit

Training Options

Pirate Bag Gifting Training• For all nursery staff who gift the Bookbug Pirate Bag• Focus on engaging ante pre-school children with stories to

encourage a love of reading• Encourage effective gifting to support home and school

links

Pirate Plus Training• For all nursery staff who gift the Bookbug Pirate Bag• Includes the content of the Pirate Bag Gifting and

additional focus on development of confidence and skills in reading aloud

Training Options

Bookbug Session Leader Training• For library staff and others to lead Bookbug Sessions with

large groups of parents and children.

Bookbug Story Time Training• Particularly aimed at those working with children aged 3-5• Focus on bringing books to life and extending the stories

Evaluation for trainees• Follow up with trainees to find out how they’re using

Bookbug for the Home

• Delegates complete evaluation forms at training

• Follow-up questionnaire 6 months later

• Case studies for formal evaluation

Impact for families• Parents feel better equipped to play and interact with

their children and there are sustained changes in how they read, sing and talk with them

• Parents feel they have a closer bond with their children

• Children gaining in confidence & self-expression

• Children improving language & communication skills

• Children improving behaviour

• Children being better prepared to fit in with some of the routines of nursery

Findings from our evaluation“I now make an effort to sing with the children and read to them. It helped me gain confidence in singing with the children, and helped me to remember the words of songs.”

“The twins know how to do a proper cuddle now…They know they have to take turns. Before they would have screamed!”

“She sits and asks for a book. It’s like she’s reading to me, trying to recognise the words. It’s made the bond a bit stronger. She’s benefitted from it.”

“We were visiting my granny and Molly was sitting singing to her. She wouldn’t have done that before. She was quiet before.”

Findings from evaluation“I use Bookbug if I feel the parent is a bit unsure of me going into the house, as I feel Bookbug helps take barriers down.”

“It was hugely helpful to see the kids in their home environment and helped staff to respond to their needs in nursery.”

“A practical form of support which is adaptable to suit all service users.”

“The family felt more confident to attend [public Bookbug sessions] and less worried about what others would think.”

Impact for professionals• 414 people were trained to deliver Bookbug for the Home

during Year 1, and approximately 548 families were reached by these trainees that year alone.

• To date, 2,500 people have been trained in Bookbug for the Home, with this number rising every week.

• Professionals have used their training to address a wide range of family needs such as: substance misuse problems, families whose children are accommodated, families lacking in confidence, families that have experienced trauma, families with children that have delayed speech or behavioural problems, and families that require support to interact with their children, including in a prison setting.

Wider impact

‘Bookbug Sessions have an impact on aspects of child development and family life that extend far beyond literacy…they impact on: affection, the ability to express one’s self, language development, and the ability of a family to engage in outings like the cinema and shopping. It is important that we take on the full import of these insights, and realise that Bookbug is building relationships.’-Dr Suzanne Zeedyk

scottishbooktrust.com

Strategic Fit

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