Let’s Get Ready bookbags launching today, for Libraries Week

Shropshire Libraries (Shropshire Council), and the council’s education improvement service early years team, are launching resources today to tie in with Libraries Week (Monday 7 October – Saturday 12 October 2019) to support parents to enjoy talking and reading to their babies and young children.

The Let’s Get Ready bookbags have been developed as part of the Year of Making Language Matter. This is a Shropshire initiative in response to the Government’s goal to halve the number of children leaving reception year without the appropriate level of communication and language skills by 2028.

The bookbags contain four books which explore daily routines and early first experiences.  They are designed to help young children to deal with change and prepare them for the next steps in their lives. Guidance sheets emphasise the importance of parents sharing books and language from the birth of their children.

The bags can be borrowed from any library for free for three weeks.

Lezley Picton, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for culture, leisure, communications and waste, said:-

‘This fantastic initiative shows that Shropshire are committed to improving the life chances of all children in our area. Good language and communication skills have a huge impact on every child’s educational attainment and underpin their future wellbeing and achievements.

Shropshire Libraries provide a huge range of resources and activities aimed at families and young children, and these bookbags will be a great addition to encourage reading for pleasure even when very young.’

To find out more about the Let’s Get Ready bookbags or the Year of Making Language Matter visit the Shropshire Libraries website or contact libraries@shropshire.gov.uk