Research by Booktrust
Bookstart research
Bookstart research - key findings May 2009
Providing access to books and reading
Almost universal reach, improving year on year…
In 2008 Bookstart packs reached over 1.7 million children. The programme’s three packs reach 92% of all children in the UK within each relevant age group. The percentage of eligible children that receive each of the Bookstart packs is increasing year on year (Fig. 1).
2006/07 2007/08 2008/09
Baby Pack 87 92 94%
Bookstart+ 85 89 92%
Treasure Chest 93 96 97%
Usage of Bookstart packs
Bookstart packs are used by nearly all families that receive them…
The vast majority of parents reported having used the pack:
96% for the baby pack of families receiving a Bookstart pack report using the pack, 98% for Bookstart+ and 98% for Treasure Chest (Fig. 2).
Fig. 2
Used pack frequently Made some use of pack
Baby Pack 73% 23%
Bookstart + Pack 79% 19%
Treasure Chest 69% 29%
Increasing reading frequency
Reading frequency increases slightly amongst families receiving Bookstart packs…
Those parents who reported reading to their child ‘Once a day’ or more frequently increased from 75% to 77% three months after receiving a pack.
Impact on family reading habits
Bookstart packs encourage parents to read more with their children…
51% of parents reported that they thought receiving the Bookstart pack had encouraged themselves or their partner to read more frequently with their child:
> 10% of parents explaining that receiving the pack had made them aware of the benefits of reading
> 41% of parents saying that they already knew of the benefits but were encouraged to read more
Accessing ‘less active’ reading families
Bookstart promotes access to books and reading for ‘less active’ reading groups…
Parents who read to their child infrequently (‘a few times a week’ or less) and reported having less than 20 books for babies or toddlers at home reported dramatically improved reading frequency when interviewed three months after receiving a Bookstart pack:
37% of these ‘less active’ reading families reported reading ‘Once a day’ or more to their child when they had previously reported reading less than once a day. These ‘less active’ reading families also reported increased library membership three months after receiving the Bookstart pack, increasing from 59% to 68%.
Giving the Bookstart message
The Bookstart message is being communicated to the majority of parents…
65% of parents receiving a Bookstart pack reported also receiving a message about sharing books from the person gifting the pack.
Children’s attitudes towards books
Receiving a Bookstart pack leads to improved attitudes of children towards books…
When asked ‘What is your child’s attitude towards books?’ parents reporting that their child was ‘Very interested’ increased from 66% to 70% when interviewed three months after receiving a Bookstart pack.
Building partnerships through Bookstart
Improving library usage…
The proportion of parents reporting that they or their family members were library members increased by 7% three months after receiving a Bookstart pack.
References
Bookstart National Impact Evaluation 2009 (Parent sample sizes: Phase 1 = 694, Phase 2 = 440).
Bookstart England Online Audit 2007/2008
NB. Full reports and details on methodology and sample sizes are available on the Bookstart website http://www.bookstart.org.uk/research