Support Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Oxfordshire
Supporting children’s literacy in the Leys, Littlemore, Rose Hill and Berinsfield
The number of parents reading to their children is at a longtime low.
Fewer than half of 0–4-year-olds (41%) are read to frequently, a steep decline from 64% in 2012 *.
We know from research that being read to as a child is so important in helping children grow up with a love of reading for themselves, as well as to outcomes in education and life.
That’s why we work in partnership with the Dollywood Foundation to deliver Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library – a scheme delivering a free book to every registered child, every month, from birth to their fifth birthday.
Through this scheme, many families who would not otherwise have books in their homes receive beautiful, age-appropriate books through their front-door every month, enabling them to enjoy sharing books together, and all the benefits that this brings.
Large scale research conducted by Swansea University showed the impact of the Imagination Library on educational outcomes:
- parents receiving Imagination Library books were 30% more likely to read daily with their child than parents outside of the programme.
- Children receiving the books for more than a year had a 40% increased chance of achieving a ‘Good Level of Development’ at the end of Early Years Foundation Stage, and a 54% increased chance of achieving the Early Learning Goal for reading. (A Good Level of Development is the Department for Education’s key target for five year olds in England.)
Local families really value the Imagination Library books:
My son loves having the books read to him and is always learning new words.”
My daughter loves the book coming through the door every month and she is starting to recognise the package it comes in. She gets so excited, and she really loves reading.”
We have been sent some really nice books and books are really expensive so these are useful and all relevant for his age. His sister enjoys reading them with him too.”