Nursery rhymes to be used to boost child literacy under new multi-million pound Government effort

A picture of primary school children raising their hands, as ministers announced details of two programmes aimed at helping mums and dads to improve language and literacy skills among young children
A picture of primary school children raising their hands, as ministers announced details of two programmes aimed at helping mums and dads to improve language and literacy skills among young children Credit: Barry Batchelor/PA

Nursery rhymes will be used to improve child literacy under a multi-million pound Government effort to stop children from disadvantaged backgrounds arriving at school already behind their peers.

Ministers announced on Monday plans which will see families receive extra support to help boost children’s early language and communication skills at home before they start their formal education.

The Government has set aside £5million to fund trial projects to provide parents with practical advice to help their children learn new words with simple steps like reading, learning the alphabet and singing nursery rhymes at the heart of the scheme.

Meanwhile, an £8.5million pot of funding has been created...

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