Early Literacy Work with Families

Cathy Nutbrown is President of Early Education and Professor of Education in the School of Education at the University of Sheffield. Her research over the last 30 years, has focussed on young children’s learning and work with parents to support young children’s literacy development.  She won an ESRC Award for Research with Outstanding Impact on Society and a Nursery World Lifetime Achievement Award. She is author of over 150 publications including Early Literacy Work with Families (with Hannon and Morgan, Sage, 2005), Early Childhood Educational Research (Sage, 2019), and Home Learning Environments for Young Children (with Clough, Davies and Hannon, Sage, 2022).Peter Hannon is Emeritus Professor at the University of Sheffield, School of Education. His pioneering research on family literacy, with many collaborators, led to the development of the ORIM Framework which was first used in the Sheffield Raising Early Achievement in Literacy Project, under his direction. He is author or co-author of over 100 publications, including, Literacy, Home and School (1995) and Early Literacy Work with Families (2005).

`There are illuminating insights into children′s perspectives on family literacy, including good news about fathers and boys. Most significantly for me, reading the book now, is the inclusion of Cathy Nutbrown′s 1999 observation of a reception class literacy hour. Don′t miss it!′ - Nursery World`A "must" read for practitioners, policy makers and researchers interested in the detail and the theory underpinning this important family literacy initiative′ - Neil McClelland OBE, Director, National Literacy Trust`The REAL Project is one of the best conceptualized, most intensively documented and successful British family literacy initiatives and the book provides a comprehensive overview of all aspects of this powerful project. It is essential reading for anyone working alongside families to promote children′s early development′ - Professor Nigel Hall, Institute of Education, Manchester Metropolitan University ′The project described in detail in this book is arguably the most important and well-researched UK initiative for developing early literacy work with parents of young children. ...Readers will find inspirational case studies ... There are illuminating insights into children′s perspectives on family literacy, including good news about fathers and boys....Don′t miss it!′ - Marian Whitehead, Nursery World

• EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND FAMILY LITERACY: POLICY CONTEXTS Policy Contexts Family Literacy ProgrammesDEVELOPING A FAMILY LITERACY PROJECT: PRACTICE AND EXPERIENCEBuilding a Framework for Family Literacy PracticeUsing the ORIM Framework to Develop a Family Literacy ProgrammeOpportunities for Parents as Adult LearnersProfessional Development for Family Literacy WorkEVALUATION AND THE PERSPECTIVES OF PARTICIPANTSThe Importance of EvaluationTeachers′ Experiences of Family LiteracyParents′ Experiences and View of a Family Literacy ProgrammeChildren′s Perspectives on Family LiteracyMaking a Difference?THE FUTURE FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND FAMILY LITERACY Developing Practices and Processes