Experts in Cumbria have been hearing how reading to babies can help with their brain development.
This is the claim by Waterstones Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce, who talked about the biological impact of storytelling at this year’s NAVSH (National Association of Virtual School Heads) conference in Birmingham.
Around 400 education professionals gathered for the 12th annual conference, which explored the theme Breaking Barriers, Building Futures – Quality, Equity and Belonging in Education.
Mr Cottrell-Boyce, who is also an author and film-maker, said: "There is strong neuroscience behind what happens when you read to children.
"It impacts on their brains.It creates strong rhythms which helps their rhythms become more stable.
"It helps them to become calm. It helps them understand language. It makes the parent’s and baby’s brain synchronise.
"It is more than enrichment and bonding, it is something more biological.
"It is key to becoming a human so we need to defend that space."
A pilot project in Cumbria is training social workers to help parents and guardians read to young children.
Virtual School staff in the county are working with organisations including Happy Home Learning, The Dollywood Foundation, Manchester University, Cumbria University, and the Shine Trust.
Joseph Askew, NAVSH Cumberland strategic lead for children with a social worker, said: "As well as helping with the basics of learning to read, we support families so they can enjoy sharing stories in ways that are warm, nurturing, and build trust.
"Early intervention, for children aged three to six, helps parents who struggle with their confidence when reading to their children as they see it modelled by social workers happening in their own home and have a go themselves."
Nicola Crompton, who is director of Staveley-based Happy Home Learning, welcomed Mr Cottrell-Boyce’s comments.
Ms Crompton said: "The team was heartened to hear Frank’s encouraging words about the Reading Champions project.
"This bespoke approach to empowering families breaks down barriers and ensures that every child can access the joy and magic of stories for free, thanks to the generosity of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
"The feedback from social workers has been positive, even at an early stage."
Josh MacAlister, MP for Whitehaven and Workington and parliamentary undersecretary for the Department for Education, also spoke at the conference.
Mr MacAlister said: "If children don’t have love then it makes their mental health really poor.
"This has to be about establishing life-long loving relationships."
The MP added: "We have a plan, we have the money and we are getting on with it.
"We need to do more, try harder and go further."
Share