Making it REAL – Raising Early Achievement in Literacy

In light of current coronavirus/covid-19 government recommendations, all face-to-face services are suspended.

If you are working and want any ideas or support for CLD, please get in touch.

CLD leads

Jo Gordon: jgordon3@lambeth.gov.uk   07545862479

Jacqui McDermid: jmcdermid@lambeth.gov.uk  07525061850

Making it REAL is a service that helps parents support their children’s literacy and reading development. Making it REAL aims to build the confidence of parents in how they can support children’s literacy and early communication and language within the home and in their local neighbourhood. 

Making it REAL draws evidence from the original REAL project delivered by Professors Cathy Nutbrown and Peter Hannon at the University of Sheffield.

REAL uses a framework called ‘ORIM’ (Opportunities, Recognition, Interaction and Model), which is based on the idea that there are four main ways in which parents can help their children’s literacy development.

Settings taking part in the service decide which families would most benefit from being involved in it.

Practitioners working with early years families in the LEAP wards.

A practical support package for instances where there is a concern with a child's speech or they have limited interest in early literacy activities (i.e. looking at books, singing rhymes, early mark making) and parents are unsure on how they can support their children.

Making it REAL training also introduces the principle of 'ORIM' which is the idea that there are four main ways in which parents can help their children's literacy development through:

• providing opportunities for literacy,
• recognising children's achievements,
• interacting and
• modelling literacy use.

Sharing REAL with parents, Doorstep Library, the Evelina Award.