An LGA review has identified how library services can support the youngest children and their families
Libraries have long been hubs of information and support in many areas, but they are also a key resource in supporting children’s early years, from language development to enabling strong pre-literacy skills and parental support.
As part of its Early Years Programme, the LGA delivered mini reviews into libraries’ work in early years across Bradford, Dorset, Leeds, Reading, St Helens, Swindon, Tameside and Wakefield from January to March 2022.
Funded by the Department for Education – and supported by the Association of Senior Children’s and Education Librarians, and membership organisation Libraries Connected – the reviews looked at identifying the key ways in which family hubs and library services can work together to enhance and develop a genuine integrated local offer to children and families, with a focus on support for speech, language and communication development.
Each council had access to peer consultants, who met with key stakeholders, for up to eight days, and focus groups were facilitated with service providers and users.
A testament to the work of local authorities and their library services, the mini reviews identified a significant amount of existing good practice in the provision of support for early years development and parental mental health.
“Recognising libraries as part of the local speech and language pathway is a valuable resource”
These included the successful delivery of national initiatives such as ‘Rhymetimes’, which aim to build confidence, develop vocabulary and teach social skills, and ‘Storytime’ sessions, which help children develop close bonds with parents while promoting social wellbeing and community cohesion.
In Swindon, Bookstart, the national programme providing free books to babies, is promoted universally by health visitors when children are six to eight weeks old and three to four years old, and is strongly supported by the library service.
In Tameside, the early years team works with library staff to quality assure their Rhymetime sessions. They have also provided training in signing and visual symbols to support some children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Recognising libraries as part of the local speech and language pathway is a valuable resource for councils.
In Reading, the LGA mini review enabled conversations between library staff, children’s services, and the speech and language therapy department, where a Reading-wide pathway for speech, language and communication was being developed at the time.
As a result, Rhymetimes across Reading libraries have now been identified as a possible targeted intervention for children with delayed speech, language and communication skills.
Benefits for parental support were identified in areas such as St Helens, where parents and grandparents frequently stay on after Rhymetime sessions to chat with other parents and carers.
In Bradford, the library offers a baby friendship group, giving families a chance to share ideas and seek support from other parents, for advice and guidance around their child’s development.
With the overwhelming evidence to demonstrate the value of libraries in contributing to the offer for children and families, it is extremely positive that the reviews opened up constructive conversations between key partners.These supported a greater understanding of how libraries can align strategies with those partners, and contribute to universal and targeted services across local areas.
Equipping councils with the tools to continue developing opportunities for closer partnership working, and sharing skills and expertise across library staff and partner services, will greatly enhance the coordination and delivery of family hubs to better support their local communities.