Nursery World - 'Help all parents educate their under-threes'

Two leading figures in the early years sector have called for the parents of children under the age of three to be given universal support. The call was made by Dr Penelope Leach and Professor Christine Pascal at a literacy conference earlier this month organised by Peers Early Education Partnership (PEEP), which runs a support programme in which parents of children aged nought to five can learn songs, rhymes, stories and play ideas.

The call was made by Dr Penelope Leach and Professor Christine Pascal at a literacy conference earlier this month organised by Peers Early Education Partnership (PEEP), which runs a support programme in which parents of children aged nought to five can learn songs, rhymes, stories and play ideas.

Dr Leach, writer and honorary research fellow at the Royal Free and University College Medical School, told the conference she'd like to take the PEEP approach everywhere. She said, 'The professional and media focus on early years risks disempowering parents. Education policy-speak can make them feel ignorant and shut out.'

Professor Pascal, director of the Centre for Research in Early Childhood at the University College of Worcester, said, 'Although ministers are keen to target disadvantaged families with children and give them support, my experience tells me that all families need it.'

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