Derby Family Hubs are passionate about the work they do to promote early literacy for children in Derby city. They embed Bookstart programme resources in the work they do across this area. Derby Hubs also work very closely with the library service, delivering some of their evidence-based sessions in the library to encourage library usage.
Derby Family Hubs deliver the Bookstart Toddler programme through their speech and language pathway, which is considered a priority disadvantage due to the impact that speech, language and communication have on a child's future. The Speech and Language Pathway starts at age 2. Children between 2-2.5 years are offered an ELIM screening (Early Language Identification Measure), this is a universal offer in Derby delivered by Family Hub Practitioners. The screening allows practitioners to identify which children require extra support, and to offer appropriate intervention early. Interventions focus on involving the parent in their child's early learning, especially around early literacy and language development. Derby Hubs use the Bookstart programme resources to support this.
The Bookstart Toddler programme is delivered through a range of sessions and groups including PEEP Progression pathway groups: WellComm to Words programmes Early Support Groups. This resulted in just under 200 Toddler were provided to families across all Early Years literacy groups between April 2024 and May 2025.
Since January 2025, the Toddler resources have also been incorporated into the Making it REAL programme takes place over 5 weeks, with each week focusing on a different theme: Early Writing, Oral Language, Early Reading, Environmental print and a roundup session. Each session is accompanied by 'ORIM' (Opportunity, Recognition, Interaction, Modelling) guidance for the parents/carers to follow.
Currently Bookstart resources are given at the end of session 3, which focuses on early reading. At the start of the session the practitioner welcomes the children and their parent/carers and then discuss some strategies around reading with the adults in the room. The practitioner then models book sharing, using the toddler resource; if the children are receptive (a key tenet of the REAL programme is to let the child lead; as a group should they not want a story at the start, this can be done later). Then the children and their carers go off to play with a selection of activities around the room. For the early reading session, these activities have corresponding books to engage with, and one table has an activity to make their own book using pictures and pens. One of the at home activities outlined in the pack is to consider where stories can be found in everyday life outside of books, and to make their own. Families then get to take the toddler pack home and replicate what they have seen in the session.
The team also take advantage of the additional Book packs that are available such as those that are suitable for children with SEND, hearing impaired children and books in home languages for children who may need this to.
Previously the resources were provided to parents at the ELIM screening, but incorporating them as part of the Making it REAL programme provides a clearer focus on book sharing, with the potential to be able to model and coach parents on how to share books with their children. Some parents may have low levels of literacy themselves and may not have been read to by their own parents, so may not have an understanding of the different ways that you can share books, the Practitioners emphasise that you don’t have to read a book from beginning to end – you can just talk about what you can see on the pages and follow your child’s lead.This is sometimes a ‘lightbulb’ moment for parents, it reduces the pressure and increases enjoyment for the parent and child, highlighting that sharing books is also fun!
The Bookstart Toddler resources are an amazing resource that we are able to use to support the children in Derby City who are most at risk of a disadvantage due to speech, language and communication needs.
In the end of course feedback, parents and carers reported an increase in confidence within themselves and within their toddlers.
Since attending the Making it REAL programme 68 percent of parents now book share with their child everyday. BookTrust’s research with parents and carers from low-income households shows that 95 percent of families know it’s important to read with their child but only 42 percent of children have a bedtime story, therefore this statistic is a huge success for Derby.
45 percent of children have a favourite book that they request over and over again, listen eagerly to stories and are able to talk about parts of the book and notice deliberate mistakes in well known text.