Supporting reading in the Early Years with Laura Henry-Allain Scroll to learning area

In this video, early years expert Laura Henry-Allain MBE, shares her insights on fostering a love for reading in young children. Filmed at The Grove Nursery School, Laura discusses her book Maya and Marley and the Great Big Tidy Up and provides valuable tips for parents and educators on how to support children’s early literacy development.

Good for looking at:

• Reading with children should be interactive, helping them connect stories to their own world.
• Encouraging memorisation of repetitive phrases is a key step in early reading development.
• A reading-friendly home environment makes books feel accessible and enjoyable.
• Audiobooks and library programs are excellent additional resources for supporting literacy.
• Books that reflect children’s interests boost engagement and foster emotional connections.

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Reflect

How could you start a conversation with parents about their child’s reading habits and interests?

What questions can could you ask parents to help them reflect on how they currently support their child’s reading at home?

How might you encourage parents to share any challenges they face in fostering a love for reading with their child?

What practical tips could you offer parents to make reading at home more engaging and interactive for their child?

How could you guide parents in selecting books that are both enjoyable and developmentally appropriate for their child’s age and interests?

What’s next?

What could your next steps be Next Steps to Support Parents in Fostering Children’s Reading:

Initiate the Conversation: Begin by setting up a casual, welcoming conversation with parents about their child’s reading journey. Use open-ended questions like, “How does your child enjoy reading at home?” or “What kind of books do they seem to enjoy most?”

Listen Actively: Encourage parents to share their experiences, challenges, and successes in supporting their child’s reading. This will help you understand their current approach and identify areas where they may need support or guidance.

Provide Practical Advice: Offer simple, actionable strategies for making reading more engaging at home. For example, suggest reading aloud together, discussing pictures in the book, or repeating familiar phrases that help with memorisation and fluency.

Recommend Resources: Share information about local library programs, audiobooks, or online resources that parents can access to support their child’s reading at home. Provide suggestions that match the child’s age and interests.

Follow Up: After the initial conversation, check in with parents to see how they are implementing the strategies and if they need any further support. This could be through follow-up conversations, newsletters, or additional resources. Keep the lines of communication open to foster an ongoing partnership.