SCOTTISH BOOK TRUST LAUNCHES NEW EARLY YEARS PROGRAMME
16th August 2010
Scottish Book Trust has just launched its new Early Years Programme, (formerly known as Bookstart in Scotland) together with a brand new mascot.
Following consultation with stakeholders and with the support of the Scottish Government, Scottish Book Trust has developed a new book gifting programme which firmly links into Scottish educational and parenting policies.
The core format of the programme - including 240,000 free packs of books for babies, toddlers, three year olds and Primary ones, and free Bookbug sessions (which in 2009-10 had audiences of over 170,000) - will stay the same, although some new benefits have been introduced including bespoke packs, improved parental guidance and an overall greener programme under a brand new Scottish identity.
The new identity has been created by acclaimed Scottish author and illustrator Debi Gliori and Bookbug will now replace the Bookstart Bear as the new face of the Scottish book gifting programme.
The bespoke packs will be especially tailored to the Scottish early year's environment, feature more Scottish authors and illustrators, and strongly support the Scottish publishing industry.
Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust said: "It is a privilege for Scottish Book Trust to be able to devise and deliver a scheme of such social and educational importance, with the support of local authority library and educational services, as well as the NHS. Working together under the fantastic new identity of Bookbug, we will send the message out far and wide that reading with your child in early years is one of the greatest gifts a parent or carer can bestow".
Viv Bird, Chief Executive of Booktrust said: "Booktrust established Bookstart in Scotland in 1999 and has worked with the Scottish Government over this time to provide free book packs to around 1,100,000 children. We are delighted to see the Scottish Government's continued commitment to provide funding for a free books programme in Scotland. We wish Scottish Book Trust every success with Bookbug, giving every child in Scotland all the benefits and joy that a lifelong love of books and the written word will bring".
Caroline McLeod, Early Years Programme Manager at Scottish Book Trust, is confident that the improvements to the programme will strengthen its impact on children and parents, with the continued aim that more parents will be reading more often with their children:
"It has been proven that babies and toddlers who are exposed to books on a regular basis are further ahead in reading, writing, numeracy and listening skills when they reach school.
This is why Scottish Book Trust's Early Years programme is so essential - as a universal scheme, based on scientific evidence, it is part of the solution to increasing literacy levels in all communities."
Scottish Book Trust Early Years Programme: Some Important Facts
What will stay the same?
• 240,000 free packs of books - now called Bookbug packs - will still be gifted to all children in Scotland at six weeks, 18 months, 3 years and in Primary One
• Free singing and rhyming sessions - now called Bookbug Sessions - will take place in libraries and other community venues across Scotland
• The Book Crawl library joining scheme - now called Bookbug's Library Challenge - will still be widely available
What will change?
• The child friendly mascot, Bookbug, created by Scottish illustrator Debi Gliori, will replace the Bookstart Bear
• The new packs will be greener and have a reduced environmental impact
• An exciting new parents' guide to sharing books with children will be included in each pack
• The packs will contain more inclusive content - information on dyslexia, bilingualism and more
• The improved pack contents will link into the Scottish education system
• A new website will be launched, full of tips, advice and information about free Bookbug events - www.scottishbooktrust.com/bookbug
• Communication with parents will be improved through the all-new Bookbug Email alerts system - www.scottishbooktrust.com/bookbugalert
Reasons why Scotland needs a bespoke book gifting programme
Core funding spent in Scotland, for Scotland, benefitting the Scottish economy.
Greater efficiency, integrating staff and operations into existing Scottish Book Trust set up and systems.
Stronger and more direct management support for the Early Years team in Scotland.
Ability to gain greater strategic fit with Scottish Government and Local Authority Early Years and Literacy initiatives, the Scottish Curriculum and other Scottish Book Trust national programmes.
Ability to develop and improve on early years provision in ways truly relevant to Scottish life, languages and culture.
Ability to source additional funding from private and public sources towards development of the schemes and their social and educational impact.
Ability to deepen and develop engagement with recipients of the book gifting packs, both children and parents, leading to other social and educational benefits.
A stronger, more relevant identity for book gifting schemes in Scotland, leading to greater public image awareness.
The programme encourages all parents and carers to enjoy books with children from as early an age as possible, developing a lifelong love of books for children all over Scotland.
Working through locally-based organisations, the programme gives the gift of free books to all Scottish children at around eight weeks, 18 months, three years old and in Primary One, along with guidance materials for parents and carers. Bookbug also aims to foster a love of books through a range of fun activities. Parents wishing to receive a pack should speak to their Health Visitor or contact their local library.
The Early Years programme is managed by Scottish Book Trust and benefits from sponsorship from children's publishers and central funding from the Scottish Government. Local Authorities and Health Boards also provide funding for the programme through the provision of local staff time and logistics solutions.
Bookstart is a national free books programme, administered by the independent literature charity Booktrust, that encourages all parents and carers to enjoy books with children from as early an age as possible. We want every child to develop a lifelong love of books. Working through local authorities and primary care trusts, Bookstart gives the gift of free books to children at around eight months, 18 months and three years, along with guidance materials for parents and carers. Bookstart also aims to foster a love of books through a range of fun activities. Bookstart is a private/public partnership with sponsorship from 25 publishers. Bookstart ran in Scotland with support from the Scottish Government from 1999 - 2010. Bookstart continues to be funded by the devolved administrations in Wales, and Northern Ireland. Bookstart in England receives funding from Central Government. It was established in England in 1992 following research carried out by Prof. Barrie Wade and Dr Maggie Moore into the effects of early book-sharing on child development. www.bookstart.org.uk
Sign up to the Bookbug Email Alert system at http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/bookbug/signup to find out when your baby, toddler or three year old will receive their free Bookbug pack of books.
