Bookstart impact evaluation

Longitudinal studies of the impact of the programme on reading habits, attitudes towards reading with young children and reading-related activities among families who have received the packs. Parents and carers were interviewed at the point of receiving the pack and several months later to track possible behavioural and attitudinal change.

2008 Wales Impact Evaluation

Interviewing 149 parents who have received the Bookstart packs across Wales, the Impact Evaluation provides insights on reading practices and attitudes in the home as well as evidence of the impact of receiving the packs.

Interviews indicated that parents were strongly supportive of reading with babies and toddlers and generally read frequently with their children. Questions about the Bookstart packs indicated that in 95% of cases children had used the pack and 44% of parents had used the Welsh language version of the pack. Longitudinal evidence suggested some improvement in book sharing frequency after receiving the packs. Significantly, this improvement was concentrated in ‘less active’ reading families, who were more likely to read once a day with their child than previously.

Download: 2008 Wales Impact Evaluation