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We are making some short videos to share online with those who are new to Peep sessions and the charity Peeple - parents/carers and people working with families. We’d love to include some short clips from parents and professionals who are already familiar with Peep - saying what you like about it, and what difference Peep has made to you and your family or the families you work with. Seeing ‘real’ people talking about Peep helps bring it to life more than a leaflet can!  

If you’d like to record and send us your thoughts on Peep, please do the following:

1. Click the link to read and complete the Consent form
    
2. Record a video on a phone – it could be recorded by you or a friend or practitioner, at home, at work, or before/after your Peep session. See below for some Tips for filming on a phone and click this link to see a clip from a Peep parent as an example.
    
3. Share your video with us on our private and secure Dropbox account - please click here to access the Peeple Dropbox folder, which will prompt you to upload your video from your device.  Dropbox will also ask you for your name and email address – please add your locality after your name (e.g. Jo Bloggs – Edinburgh), so that we can match up videos to consent forms. (Within Dropbox, your video and your name and email address will only be visible to the Peeple video-making team.)

Tips for filming about Peep on your phone (or download the Tips)​

• Keep the phone steady by balancing or propping it up on something.
• Make sure there is nothing in the background that you wouldn't want on film, especially personal information.
• Be well lit from the front, natural light is best.
• Try to keep your head and shoulders in shot, ideally landscape view (phone sideways).
• Have an idea of what you are going to say about the impact Peep has had (it doesn't have to be scripted).
• Remember to introduce yourself, including your role, e.g. Parent with toddler, or Outreach worker using Peep in Stay and Play, etc
• Hit record and go - it's great if you start with a smile and look at the camera 

Thanks for your time - do get in touch if anything isn't clear or you have any questions:  support@peeple.org.uk or tel 01865 397976.

The evidence-based Peep Learning Together Programme supports practitioners and parents* with young children’s development and learning, making the most of their earliest years and helping to improve later outcomes. It is widely used across the family support and early years sectors, including Family Hubs. Find out below how our Peep programmes support children's outcomes through a strengths-based approach to working with families, supporting staff development, and providing comprehensive and flexible resources that can be used in universal and targeted delivery.

Peep sessions raise parents’ confidence and awareness about:

• the value of their role and their relationship with their child,
• the simple things they can do in day-to-day life to support learning, and why these things make a difference.

There is compelling evidence that these two interconnected things, sometimes known as the Home Learning Environment (HLE), are fundamental to a good start in life. The human brain is built not born – the 100 billion brain cells that we are born with need to be connected up. Most of these connections are made during the first months and years of life, and are heavily influenced by the child’s relationships and experiences during this period. It's never too late to make a difference but it makes sense to get involved as early as possible. Increasing parents’ understanding contributes to preventative early intervention or more targeted later intervention, helping to narrow the attainment gap in society that is already apparent before children start school.

'The Peep course has really helped my family to bond. We play together much more often.'  Peep parent

The Learning Together Programme is comprehensive, with five strands of learning which complement the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) and other early years frameworks: Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Communication and Language, Early Literacy, Early Maths, and Health and Physical Development. Practitioners who attend the 2-day Peep Learning Together Training are given online access to 74 child development topics (each with downloadable session plans and parent handouts), along with extensive implementation support.

Evidence-base:

​Peep programmes have been evaluated in a number of independent research studies by the Universities of Oxford, Queen's Belfast and Warwick. These show that Peep:

• helps children develop strong foundations for language, literacy and self-esteem – improving outcomes for all, but with the greatest impact on the most disadvantaged
• successfully reaches families and engages them in their children’s learning
• helps parents become more aware of their children’s development and how to foster it
• enables practitioners from a wide range of professions develop new skills and fresh approaches to unlock parents’ potential, rather than focus on their problems.

'Since I started Peep I talk more with my daughter about what is in the book we are looking at – not just the words. We sing loads and I am beginning to feel more confident with messy play.' Peep parent

The evidence-based Learning Together Programme (LTP) was developed for practitioners to use with parents and their children from birth to school. Increasing parents’ understanding contributes to preventative early intervention or more targeted later intervention, helping to narrow the attainment gap in society that is already apparent before children start school.

'Peep provides a very clear structure to provide key messages and support around learning in the home to parent/carers. The programme content and resources are very comprehensive and of a high standard, and can be delivered flexibly.  The training was fun and interesting, with very engaging and experienced trainers. I feel really motivated to start delivering Peep in our locality, along with Family Hub colleagues across Hull.'  Catherine, Early Help Team Manager, Hull City Council Family Hub

How the Peep Learning Together Programme is used with families to support children’s outcomes:

Valuing and building on what parents already do:  

Peep is a strengths-based approach to working with families. Key child development ideas are discussed during Peep sessions, including how the ideas relate to families’ experiences. Children’s behaviour, for instance, can become easier for parents to manage or re-focus when they understand a bit more about possible causes. The topic on schemas can provide alternative activities for a child who is exploring throwing things, while ‘Mark making’ helps explain why a child might be swirling their food on the table, and suggests other ideas for making marks (sand, mud, playdough, paintbrush and water on the ground, etc).  The combination of information with practical ideas helps restore parents’ own patience whilst providing their child with more opportunities to develop their skills through play.

Peep sessions also include songs and story time, and simple, low-cost play and talk activities that can be continued at home.  When parents understand more about the benefits of singing, talking, playing and sharing books and stories with their baby or child, and share simple ideas for incorporating them into everyday life, they tend to do more of these valuable activities.

'Peep was very informative and interactive. It has made me more comfortable and confident as a parent. More importantly, I now understand my kids better than before being involved in the sessions.'  Peep parent

Delivery format:

The Peep Learning Together Programme was designed to be used flexibly, to suit the needs and interests of all families. Peep sessions can be delivered in groups, in drop-in sessions (e.g. Stay and Plays or child health clinic waiting areas), or in the home or other one-to-one sessions. They can take place indoors, outdoors or online. Peep practitioners (two co-facilitators or a session leader and assistant) decide on the number of sessions in a Peep course, and which of the child development topics to focus on, involving parents' preferences as appropriate.

'Peep was very good. Learnt a lot about the importance of praise and positive feedback, my impact, body language, etc.'  Peep parent

Strengthening relationships:

The Peeple principle that ‘relationships are at the heart of learning’ underpins both the practitioner training and Peep sessions with families. Several of the Programme topics focus specifically on supportive and loving parent-child relationships, but nurturing and reflective care underlies all  Peep sessions. Practitioners use the ORIM framework to identify Opportunities, Recognition, Interactions and Modelling that parents are doing with their children, building their knowledge and confidence, and helping to strengthen their relationships. Parents are encouraged to share ideas and activities from the session with other family members at home.  

In feedback, parents often comment on how much they appreciated the friendships and peer‑to-peer support networks that they and their children develop:

'The discussions within the session – it is never rushed or brushed past. Honest conversations with other parents made me feel better on days where I’ve wondered if it was just me feeling a certain way. The staff are very welcoming and put you at ease.'  Peep parent

Universal delivery and accessibility:  

In our experience, families from all walks of life benefit from getting to know other families and practitioners, sharing practical ideas and experiences with each other, and finding out about other local services. Being seen to be open to all families can reduce the stigma that is sometimes associated with ‘parenting’ groups. The focus in Peep sessions is on supporting children’s  learning and development, which also helps with parents’ sensitivity. As a society we're gradually recognising that groups for parents and children are beneficial for all  families. Cross-sector support such as that provided by Family Hubs can really help break down barriers. 

Targeted delivery:

Peep programmes can be used or adapted for families with similar needs or circumstances if helpful, such as young parents, dads, foster carers or kinship carers, children due to start nursery or school (transition or school readiness), families with English as an additional language (EAL), parents with post‑natal depression or anxiety, children with delayed speech and language, families with a parent in prison, traveller families, childminders, or families whose children have additional support needs (SEND), etc. While some parents prefer to go to a group that is open to all, others would rather start off with parents that they feel they have more in common with.

Course content can be targeted by age/ developmental stage and/or one or more of the five strands of development. Some Peep practitioners have added in elements that appeal to the families they are working with, such as Peep in the Pool, Cooking Peep or Outdoor Peep. Peep programmes can also be used to complement or follow on from other provision, such as Baby Massage or Peep Antenatal courses, or transition sessions into early years settings.

'Because of Peep I am always looking for opportunities to help my child learn and get new experiences.'  Peep parent

Sharing ideas with families beyond direct delivery:

We post Peep activity ideas and tips that support the home learning environment on our Peeple social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, all @PeepleCentre). These are used by parents and practitioners. Peep practitioners can also share Peep handouts on their own social media pages or online groups (e.g. via Whatsapp), as well as printing them.

Quality Assurance and workforce development:

Peep programmes and delivery are quality assured by:

• our evidence-base, findings from wider research, and our delivery model, described in our theory of change,
• our regularly monitored and reviewed training courses, which focus on enhancing practitioners’ theoretical and practical skills, knowledge and understanding about working with parents to support their children’s development,
• the comprehensive, high-quality Programme resources available to all trained practitioners,
• reflections from our own practitioners, and practitioners we have trained around the UK, Ireland and Australia over the past couple of decades, along with those of the families they have worked with,
• accreditation units available to both practitioners and parents,
• post-course delivery support and sharing of best practice, available to Peep practitioners and organisations, including monthly online practitioner support sessions, Peep Champions network, delivery support newsletters, practitioner Facebook group, refresher training, and Members Area on our website.

‘Peep is fantastic for involving parents in their children's learning. It gives parents more confidence to support their children's learning and take it forward at their child's pace and development level.’  Children’s Centre family support worker

Sustainability, value for money and a joined-up approach for organisations:

We have trained practitioners from numerous settings and backgrounds, such as family hubs, children's centres, nurseries, pre-schools, schools, health centres, early help, libraries, family learning, psychology, social care, public health, prisons, museums and community centres.  As a charity, we have always prioritised making the training affordable and great value for organisations, providing on-going access to both the Programme materials and delivery support.

Practitioners can be employed or volunteers, including  parents who have gone on to become Peep practitioners, sometimes after completing the Peep Progression Pathway accreditation. Peep delivery can be an opportunity for practitioners from different sectors to work together, sharing their complementary skills and experience with families and each other.

‘I find Peep a huge benefit to both myself and the adults that I work with. It's good fun, factual, and understanding that everyone is in the same boat and trying to be the best parents they can be, and that we can support each other.’  Early childhood practitioner, nursery class

* For readability, we use the term ‘parents’ to refer to family members and others with a key caring role.

If you're part of a Family Hub or an organisation working with families, find out more:

>  Peep Learning Together Programme

>  Peep Learning Together Programme 2-day Training for Practitioners

>  Arrange a free Information Briefing for managers and decision-makers

>  Arrange In-house Training (online or face-to-face)

>  Watch our video 'How Peep Programmes can support your work with families'

Parenting can be tough! Which is why we don’t judge or tell people what they ‘should' do, we simply encourage & build on what families already do.

Contact your local children's centre, family centre or family hub if you'd like to see if there's a Peep group near you.

Babies 'talk' more and more when others respond to them - this is how they learn. 

Try copying your baby’s cooing sounds or facial expressions. Watch and listen for their responses and leave gaps in the conversation so that your baby has time to answer you in their own way. 

Children have as much fun playing with water, sticks or mud as they do with toys. They'll often love it when you get down to their level to join in their play. At other times they'll enjoy playing with a friend - when they're young they'll often play alongside rather than 'with' each other, it's a gradual process (and challenging!) to play together and make compromises, but with practice they'll get better at sharing and taking turns!

Growing Minds is an ambitious, collaborative project, bringing together experienced organisations and tried-and-tested interventions to improve school readiness and support young children’s life chances.  It is led by a partnership of third sector organisations in Oxfordshire: Peeple, Home-Start Oxford and the Berin Centre. Growing Minds was made possible by Our Common Good and is supported by a consortium of donors.

Watch our Growing Minds video to find out more:

Oxfordshire Community Foundation created the Growing Minds project, launching it in Littlemore and Berinsfield, two income-deprived communities in Oxfordshire, in January 2020. The project was working with 277 families in these two areas by April 2022, when it handed over leadership to the three organisations mentioned above, who had been involved from the start. Growing Minds services for families are delivered by established local service providers from education, health and family support. It is now a well-known and valued service in both areas, with 433 children involved by April 2024.

Growing Mind’s birth to school pathway illustrates the joined-up approach to working with families with babies and children under five. It includes:

• 60 free book for each child to keep, delivered once a month from birth to age five, via the Dolly Parton Imagination Library - here's more about our local Growing Minds and Peeple Imagination Library. This has helped not only to engage new families, but to support their confidence and enjoyment in sharing books. All families surveyed reported doing this on a weekly or daily basis. Growing Minds families had received a total of 11,896 Imagination Library books by April 2024.
   
• Sharing initial information with families via people and services that they already have contact with, such as midwives, birth registrars, nursery nurses and health visitors.
   
• Developing responsive and flexible relationships with families, ensuring that their most urgent and basic needs are focused on first. The extraordinary pressures that families have faced during the pandemic led to an increased need for both financial and mental health support. HomeStart Oxford visit families at home and develop trusting relationships, offering practical support, as well as signposting them to specialist support services and/or other community groups.
   
• Peep Learning Together sessions – incorporated into groups, home visits and/or Stay and Play sessions, for parents and carers with their babies or young children. The Peep sessions share information and ideas with families that support their child’s learning in day-to-day life. 92% of the parents surveyed reported doing more things with their child that they learned about in the sessions, and 91% felt more confident supporting their child’s learning and development after attending groups. Another important aspect is the further strengthening of relationships – with practitioners in their local communities where sessions are held (such as the Family Centre/ Hub, church, pre-school and school, which can include transition/ school-ready sessions), and also with other families, providing on-going friendship and support for each other.
   
• Staying in touch between face-to-face sessions, via online newsletters, WhatsApp groups and a closed Growing Minds Facebook group for each area.

using the growing minds model in other areas

The model could also be rolled out in other areas of Oxfordshire and beyond. The flexible and collaborative approach has enabled the project to adapt to the various challenges of the pandemic and social distancing.

The key elements that would enable it to successfully be used elsewhere are:

• A preventative, early intervention approach – conversations starting at or before birth, and sharing tangible resources
• Evidence-based interventions – Imagination Library books, Peep Learning Together groups, one-to-one support for more intensive or tailored assistance when required
• A collaborative, local community, partnership approach – building on and extending existing relationships with and between services, professionals and families, from birth.

> Find out more: Evaluation summary of the Impact and Reach of the Growing Minds Project 

The START programme was developed for toddlers with a connection to autism or ADHD. Research indicates that they may benefit from additional support to promote the development of strong thinking, attention and regulation skills that enable us to control our impulses, think flexibly to solve problems, and set and work towards goals. The programme was developed by Dr Alexandra Hendry (a developmental psychologist at the University of Oxford) in collaboration with Peeple. 

The START team are now recruiting families with a child born between April - October 2022.

Find out more, and sign up to take part: www.startproject.info  email: start@psy.ox.ac.uk  or tel  07310 876421

Playing or exploring outside with babies and young children is fun, even when it's cold and damp - getting out the door is often the hardest bit! It's also good for our own mental health, and provides lots of learning opportunities. Going to Outdoor Peep sessions combines meeting other families with reduced Covid risk. Exploring outside helps children to learn to manage risks, by developing their co-ordination, strength and problem-solving skills. 

Below are some photos of families at Outdoor Peep, in summer and winter. They can be held anywhere outside, such as a local park or woods, or in the garden of a nursery or family/ children's centre. Contact your local Family Information Service, children's/ family centre or early years setting, to see if they have Peep-trained staff and do Peep sessions.

Here are a few outdoor play ideas from our colleague Helen, chatting with Nigel Clarke (CBeebies' The Baby Club and The Toddler Club) on his Dadvengers podcast and blog. 

And here are 6 ideas for playing outside - lots more outdoor play ideas on our 'Peep tips and activity ideas for you and your child'.