Good practice guidance

Communicating the message
Through the hard work of our gifting partners Bookstart reaches thousands of families every year. How the packs are presented is vitally important to the scheme's success. This document outlines how professionals should present the packs to children and their parents to have the most impact. 
Download - Communicating the message (Word doc 659Kb)

Steering groups
Bookstart steering groups play a vital role in making a scheme effective and sustainable. Here are guidelines for schemes on organising steering groups and what their objectives might be.
Download - Steering groups (Word doc 40Kb)

Working with the Traveller Community
Bookstart aims to reach out to every child within the UK and the Traveller Community may often miss out on their packs for a range of reasons. This easy-to-read guide has been put together with input from Bookstart programmes across the UK who are already successfully working with the Traveller Community. It contains advice and guidance on how to ensure that this important group of parents and children receive their Bookstart packs and the all important Bookstart message.
Download - Working with the Traveller Community (Word doc 50Kb)

Bookstart and Birth to Three Matters

Birth to Three Matters is a framework to support children in their earliest years in England.
This Bookstart Guidance document explains how Bookstart can support the aims and objectives of Birth to Three Matters.
Download - Bookstart and Birth to Three Matters (Word doc 53Kb)

The SureStart website provides information and supplementary resources to be used in conjunction with the Birth to Three Matters pack.
Website -
www.surestart.gov.uk/improvingquality/frameworks/birthtothreematters/