Early Literacy Kids (ELK), which supplies the story bags, arose out of the Scottish Executive's early years best practice initiative, which seeks to spread innovation and excellence in the delivery of education and childcare. The ELK scheme now covers 400 children in 12 pre-school education centres between Stranraer and Newton Stewart.
The story bag, which a child can borrow for a week, contains a book with a nursery rhyme or song and two associated games or toys. Chair of the ELK project Elaine Milven said, 'Parents love it because it involves them directly with their children. They can enjoy reading together and playing games together. And we've noticed that the story bags have improved the children's concentration when they are listening to a story and they are far more interested in asking questions afterwards.'
She said that some children in the area of Wigtownshire did not have easy access to libraries and some parents found it difficult to find the money to meet their appetite for books. 'We want to ensure all children benefit from a positive literacy experience at an early age,' she added.
The story bags are rotated between the various centres so that children have access to a wide selection of books, which is intended to help children with vocabulary and sentence formation and increase their interest in the world around them.
Elaine Milven said that she had become 'a professional scrounger', seeking and securing funds for the project from local businesses and civic organisations. Each bag costs between 25 and 30 to make and fill, and ELK needs a total of 200 bags. So far they have made 150.
Veronica Steel, early years education officer at Dumfries and Galloway Council, said that the ELK project is 'a really good example of partnership and an excellent example of how to help children learn to read'.
For more information about the project, contact Elaine Milven of Whauhill Playgroup on 01988 700 317.
