Bookstart impact evaluation
Longitudinal studies of the impact of the programme on reading habits, attitudes towards reading with young children and reading-related activities among families who have received the packs. Parents and carers were interviewed at the point of receiving the pack and several months later to track possible behavioural and attitudinal change.
2009 National Impact Evaluation
Interviewing several hundred parents who had received the Bookstart packs across England, the National Impact Evaluation provides insights on reading practices and attitudes in the home as well as evidence of the impact of receiving the packs.
Interviews elicited information about family reading habits and attitudes in two interviews: first, at the point of receiving a Bookstart pack and then three months later. Results indicated that parents were strongly supportive of reading with babies and toddlers and generally read frequently with their children. Longitudinal evidence suggested marked improvement in book sharing frequency after receiving the packs for ‘less active' reading families that reported having relatively few children's books in the home and read with their child less than once a day. Three months after receiving a Bookstart pack these ‘less active' reading families reported significantly improved reading frequency, stronger parental interest in reading with their child and higher levels of library membership. The impact study findings will be used to inform programme development and future research.
Click here to download 2009 National Impact Evaluation
2008 Wales Impact Evaluation
Interviewing 149 parents who have received the Bookstart packs across Wales, the Impact Evaluation provides insights on reading practices and attitudes in the home as well as evidence of the impact of receiving the packs.
Interviews indicated that parents were strongly supportive of reading with babies and toddlers and generally read frequently with their children. Questions about the Bookstart packs indicated that in 95% of cases children had used the pack and 44% of parents had used the Welsh language version of the pack. Longitudinal evidence suggested some improvement in book sharing frequency after receiving the packs. Significantly, this improvement was concentrated in ‘less active' reading families, who were more likely to read once a day with their child than previously.
