Bookstart

Do you have children in your Early Years provision who would benefit from additional support with language, communication, or access to books at home? This may include younger siblings in families who could benefit from early access to books and resources.

Through Bookstart, Oxfordshire libraries offer a range of free resources for children under five, including:

• Bookstart Baby pack (0 - 12 months)
• Additional needs packs for babies and toddlers with SEND (including children who are deaf, blind, or have motor skill challenges)
• Dual language books for under-fives in a wide range of languages (e.g. Ukrainian, Dari, Pashto, Cantonese, Bengali, Malayalam, Spanish, Arabic, French and more)
• Early Years settings can also get involved in delivering Bookstart toddler and preschool programmes. This is a targeted programme supporting early literacy, engagement in reading, and home-school links, prioritising children and families who would benefit the most.

What to do:

• Identify children and families who may benefit
• Contact Bookstart Oxfordshire to request resources: bookstart@oxfordshire.gov.uk
• Contact OCC's Early Years & Childcare Quality Improvement Team for information on delivering Bookstart toddler and preschool programmes: Paula.Lochrie@Oxfordshire.gov.uk
• Parents can collect resources from a nominated library; more information can be found on their website: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/library