Raising Early Achievement in Literacy

The Early Childhood Unit (ECU) began work on the new Making it REAL (Raising Early Achievement in Literacy) project in August 2009.

Funded by The Big Lottery Fund (Family Learning programme) the project uses the REAL framework developed by Cathy Nutbrown and Peter Hannon at the University of Sheffield. Eight children’s centres in Sheffield and Oldham are working together with the university, Sheffield and Oldham local authorities and the ECU over a three-year period. A team of early years teachers, practitioners and local authority officers receive and help deliver training each year in

the REAL approach, and families are then invited to receive a series of home visits and invitations to special literacy events and workshop sessions.

REAL builds on what parents already do at home to help children learn. The relationships developed between practitioner, parents and children are central. Parents receive support to provide more opportunities for their children to enjoy books and stories, songs and rhymes, read environmental print and engage in early mark making activities.

Parents, practitioners and children are directly involved in evaluating the effectiveness of the project. Outcomes are increased parent confidence and knowledge of how to join in with children, model practice, recognise and respond to children’s progress - and improved literacy, language and social skills for young children. 

Read more about REAL:

Story and evaluation of Year 1
REAL Year 2

REAL at the Early Literacy Work with Families conference, and the new ESRC-funded research project

Opportunity for practitioners to join University of Sheffield project on A Framework for Early Literacy Development with Parents.

REAL Year 2 evaluation day in Sheffield

For more information contact jconnor@ncb.org.uk and hwheeler@ncb.org.uk or visit the new REALonline website.

More can be read about REAL in Nutbrown, C, Hannon, P and Morgan, A (2005) Early Literacy Work with Families, Sage Publications.

Big Lottery Fund site