Free books for newborn babies in Tameside to boost literacy rates

They'll be given to babies and new parents by their midwives before they are discharged from Tameside Hospital.

Author: Tom DambachPublished 27th Feb 2019

The move is one of a number of strategies to help boost children’s literacy rates in Tameside.

Currently, just over a third (34%) of children in the borough start school with below average language and reading skills.

The free book will be given to every baby born under the care of Tameside Hospital over the next 12 months.

The book packs, which will include tips on reading with babies as well of details of signing up for library membership, will be given to babies and new parents by their midwives before they are discharged from hospital.

Tameside Council Executive Member for Lifelong Learning Cllr Leanne Feeley said: “Reading exposes you to so many wonderful things - it inspires your imagination, paints pictures of stories in your mind and takes you to anywhere you want to go.

It is never too early to inspire a love of reading and start developing literacy skills and I would like to thank our partners at the hospital for working with us to reach new parents at the earliest opportunity to encourage them to start enjoying books with their babies from day one.

Reading together - at any age - is fun and a great way for parents to spend special, bonding time with their children. This is just the first chapter in our Tameside Loves Reading story – we have lots of exciting projects and events planned to encourage parents and carers to read with their children daily and to support schools to improve reading and literacy skills to help our children achieve well.”

Chief Executive at Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS FT, Karen James, said, “We want babies born at Tameside Hospital to have the best start in life and we think the gift of a book will support children and their parents to spend quality time together enjoying their book.”

Tameside Council are also looking at other initiatives as part of a three year programme, which includes working with all Tameside primary schools and involves a reading volunteer scheme with local employers, extra investment in language and vocabulary interventions and training for nurseries and reception classes.

To find out more about the Tameside Loves Reading campaign - see www.tameside.gov.uk/tamesidelovesreading.