Activity packs for P2 and P3 pupils in bid to improve literacy and numeracy
The bundles are said to have been designed to provide a fun learning experience for youngsters at school and home, with experts hoping they will encourage parents to engage actively in their child's learning.
Almost 130,000 free packs of books and games are being sent to all children in primaries two and three as part of moves to boost their literacy and numeracy skills. The bundles are said to have been designed to provide a fun learning experience for youngsters at school and home, with experts hoping they will encourage parents to engage actively in their child's learning.
The packs are funded by the Scottish Government and are being delivered by the Scottish Book Trust as part of the Read, Write, Count campaign.
Education Secretary John Swinney, who launched the initiative at Towerbank Primary School in Edinburgh, voiced his commitment to closing the attainment gap during the lifetime of this parliament.
He said: "We know there is a direct link between strong family learning environments and progress in reading, writing and counting, which is why these packs are specifically designed to encourage family engagement and help parents and carers become more involved in their child's learning journey.
"By forging a stronger connection between how our young people learn and play, both at home and in school, we hope to inspire a lifelong love of learning that will ensure every child in Scotland has the ability to reach their full potential.''
About 128,000 packs, and another 1,600 in Gaelic, are being distributed through schools in the run-up to Book Week Scotland, which starts on November 21.
The P2 bundle contains two picture books, a snakes and ladders game, finger puppets, a notebook, writing pencil and coloured pencils. The P3 pack contains the same items, with the game replaced by playing cards with numbers on them.
Marc Lambert, chief executive of the Scottish Book Trust, said: "Doing fun things with your children is one of the great things about being a parent - it makes you and your children happy and helps build stronger bonds.
"These packs have, therefore, been carefully designed to provide a fun learning experience for pupils both at school and at home, supporting parents of children in primaries two and three who want to take a more active role in their children's learning.''