The Home Learning Environment
Parenting and the quality of the home learning environment has been found to have a greater impact on
children’s achievement than any other aspect of children’s lives. What parents do with their young children at home, is the single most important factor in helping children learn and develop, it is more important than social class or parental qualifications. The effects of positive early home learning experiences have been found to benefit children’s educational attainment into secondary school.
The home learning environment is not just about learning opportunities available. It includes relationships parents have with children and experiences children have with their families.
Early years practitioners are in an excellent position to inform, support and guide parents in helping children to learn at home.
This page is designed to provide settings information to share with parents. It includes ideas for activities, resources and advice to enhance the knowledge and skills of parents and carers.
You can find more information in this short video clip: Foundation Years Vodcast: Tips to improve the home learning environment | From pregnancy to children aged 5 years
Seasonal updates - Summer 2024
Summer reading challenge
During the long summer holiday, why not encourage your
children to join the summer reading challenge!
Join Marvellous Makers (The Reading Agency) Summer Reading Challenge and visit your local library to find out about the fun free 'Summer Reading Challenge' activities and rewards for children this year.
Bolton's Summer Reading Challenge launch event is Saturday 22nd July 11:00am - 3pm at Bolton Central Library. Enjoy free storytelling, engaging activities with Bolton Octagon Theatre and more. Free and no need to book.
Don't worry... If you miss the launch event, you can still take part in the challenge, and win prizes, by visiting any Bolton library to sign up between Saturday 8th July to Wednesday 19th July. You can also sign up online. See links below for more information.
- Summer Reading Challenge | Marvellous Makers
- Preschool-zone | Summer Reading Challenge
- Home-zone-src | Summer Reading Challenge
- Summer Reading Challenge – Bolton Libraries and Museums (boltonlams.co.uk)
Family Hubs Guide to What's On
Encourage families and colleague to read and share the 'Guide to What's on for Families in Bolton'.
The guide lists family activities that take place in hubs, libraries, and centres (free unless otherwise stated) and other health and wellbeing messages and available services. Download the current version here: Bolton Family Hubs Spring/Summer 2024 Guide to What's on.
Coming soon... New activities begin week commencing 22nd July 2024 and will be available to view via the link above from that date.
Printed programmes are usually available in Family Hubs, Libraries, and other locations whilst stocks last.
The programme can also be accessed on the Bolton Council website which is enabled with a ReachDeck toolbar to support greater accessibility. For example, a user can highlight text to read aloud, or translate pages into other languages. When visiting the council page, look for the 'red and white ReachDeck logo' at the bottom right hand corner of the screen; click on it to enable its use.
Start Well Story: Summer 2024
Focus book: Handa's Surprise
Kids Book Read Aloud Handa's Surprise I By Eileen Browne I StoryTime with Miss Randall (youtube.com)
Songs and Rhymes of the month | Bolton Start Well
Communication and Language Development
Handa's Surprise - Match the animal to the fruit - Matching pairs (wordwall.net)
Physical Development
Eating healthy is linked to wellbeing: Activity-Get-healthy-with-Handas-Surprise.pdf (ndna.org.uk)
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Create a musical instrument: Make Homemade Music with These 6 DIY Instruments - Learning Liftoff
Let's dance! Use your musical instruments and let's dance to some traditional african music: Preschool Learn to Dance: Big African Animals (youtube.com)
School Ready
- PACEY_preparingforschool_guide.pdf
- All aboard the Toilet Train: Get ready for school - ERIC
- Information in other languages - ERIC
- Greater Manchester (GM) 10 Tips for Talking - Greater Manchester Combined Authority (greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk)
- School readiness: How to prepare your child for school - BBC Tiny Happy People
Advice, Information, and Financial Support
My Life in Bolton
Parents can find advice and information for all aspects of life ranging from childcare to local activities and more at: www.mylifeinbolton.org.uk
Benefit calculators
Good websites to share with families to check if they are checking the benefits which they are entitled to.
Bolton Holiday, Activities and Food #HAF programme
Whilst the programme is aimed at children and young people on benefits related free school meals #TeamBolton’s HAF programme offers many FREE sessions to all school aged young people, as well as a free Urban Outreach packed lunch every weekday if you need it! Look out for Council run sessions in your local community, parks and youth centres.
Gambling support
If you're worried about gambling for yourself or someone you know, go to www.chapter-one.org. There's never been a better time to do so.
Supporting the prime areas of learning
Communication and Language
- Five Golden Rules
- Tips to promote communication and language development
- GM 10 Top Tips for Talking
- Start for Life: Learning to Talk
- BBC Tiny Happy People
- How can early years practitioners use Tiny Happy People?
- Words for Life: Talking to your child when out and about
- Words for Life: Walk and Talk Cards
- Words for Life: Chat, play, read interactive activity booklets
- Small Talk
- Supporing multilingual children resources for educators (bilingualfamily.eu)
- How to raise a bilingual child resources for parents (bilingualfamily.eu)
- Look, Say, Sing, Play - Brain-building tips | NSPCC
- Communication Cookbook 4-6 years (childrensspeechtherapyni.com)
- The land of make believe (hanen.org)
- The Communication Trust (speechandlanguage.org.uk)
- Look, Say, Sing, Play Brain-building tips | NSPCC
Physical Development
- Get little ones moving at home - Greater Manchester Moving
- Moving for children 10 tips for movement - Greater Manchester Moving
- Early Years Outdoor Learning and Play - Learning Through Landscapes
- Things to do in the woods - Woodland Trust
- Playful ways to support 7 Fine Motor Skills in Babies and Toddlers - Brookes Blog
- Activities to develop fine motor skills - Learning Resources
- Helping under-5s live active and healthy lives — Early Movers
- Physical activity for early years: birth to 5 years (publishing.service.gov.uk)
- 6 of the Best Outdoor Spring Activities | Famly
- Bolton's Let's Keep Bolton Moving (letskeepboltonmoving.co.uk)
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Ideas for teaching children about emotions
- Challenging behaviour a parents guide to support - YoungMinds
- Behaviour management, tips and tools
- 4 steps to family problem solving with positive behaviour support - Brookes Publishing
- Early Education - Food to share recipe book
- NHS hand washing guide
- Smriti Halls' guide to introducing a new baby to their big brother or sister
- Best Start - Building resilience in young children (beststart.org)
- 10 practical tips to help children cope with strong emotions - BBC Tiny Happy People
- Introducing toddlers to baby brothers or sisters, how to prepare - BBC Tiny Happy People
- Early Development | ZERO TO THREE
- 10 Fun Indoor Activities that Boost Young Children’s Development - Brookes Blog
- How to talk to your child about emotions - CBeebies - BBC
Specific areas
Literacy
- Words for Life: reading and story time
- BookTrust: HomeTime for children aged 5 and under
- BookTrust bookfinder
- National Literacy Trust, Family Zone
- CBeebies Alphablocks
- National Literacy Trust, supporting literacy by ages and stages
- 11 fun animal activities that encourage early language
and literacy skills - Brookes Blog - What's On for Under Fives – Bolton Libraries and Museums (boltonlams.co.uk)
- Bolton Library Events | Eventbrite
- Join the library – Bolton Council
- Bolton Libraries - Click and collect service
- Visit the Community Library at Farnworth and Alexandra Family Hub
- Retelling a story with preschoolers - Activity for 3 year olds - BBC Tiny Happy People
Mathematics
- CBeebies Numberblocks
- CBeebies puzzles: Activities to support problem solving, number games and more
- White Rose Maths
- NCETM: Numberblocks at home
- Numeracy - CBeebies BBC
Understanding the World
- Activities for children and families | Educational DIY Projects -The RSPB
- The parent’s guide to teaching children about diversity - scholastic.com
- 50 things to do before you're 11¾ - National Trust
Expressive Art and Design
- Musical Development Matters in the Early Years
- Bolton Music Service: Shared Sounds - YouTube
- Bolton Music Service: Riggedy Jig - YouTube
- Bolton Music Service: Knock Knock Knock - YouTube
- Bolton Music Service: Finger Families - YouTube
- Bolton Music Service: Chop Chop - YouTube
- Bolton Music Service: Early Years Network Resources (padlet.com)
Bolton resources
- Bolton Start Well at Home | Facebook
- Bolton Families Information Service
- Let's Keep Bolton Moving
- Bolton Library and Museum Services | Facebook
- Bolton Library and Museum Services | Twitter
Other resources
Online Safety
- Internet safety - Help for early years providers - GOV.UK (education.gov.uk)
- Pre-school (0-5) online safety advice | Internet Matters
- Foundation Years vodcast on online safety | From pregnancy to children aged 5
- Early-Years-Practitioners-using-cyber-security-to-protect-your-settings.pdf (ncsc.gov.uk)
- Toddler and tablets: Ten First Steps
- Smart parenting in the digital age
- Use Parental Controls to Keep Your Child Safe | NSPCC
- Exploring Play and creativity in Young Children's use of Apps: A Guide for Parents
- Teaching Your Child about Internet & Online Safety | NSPCC
- Online safety for children with SEND | NSPCC
Screen Time
- Bolton Start Well EYCLDS: Screen Time
- Speech and Language UK: Screen Time Myth-Busting for Parents and Carers NEW!
- Internet Matters Guide Balancing Screen Time 0-5s (internetmatters.org)
- RCPCH screen time parent fact sheet
- The WHO: Guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for children under 5
Home Safety
- HFSA - Greater Manchester Fire Rescue Service: Get a FREE home fire safety assessment
- Greater Manchester Fire Rescue Service: Making referrals for home safety assessment on behalf of others
Car Safety
First Aid
Healthy Eating
- Healthy lunch ideas - Healthier Families - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
- Working with Families: Healthy Start Scheme - Greater Manchester Combined Authority (greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk)
- Food to share recipe booklet - Early Education (early-education.org.uk)
Oral Health
- Oral health - Help for early years providers - Promoting Good Oral Health at Home - GOV.UK (education.gov.uk)
- Encanto Magic Bubble 2 Minute Toothbrush Timers with guide 2022 - YouTube
- Blippi tooth brushing song - Google Search
Water safety
- Water safety - Greater Manchester Fire Rescue Service
- Parents Resources | Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK)
- Child drowning prevention: Water safety for kids (capt.org.uk)
- Accidents to children - RoSPA
- Risk Factors | Royal Life Saving Society - Australia
- Drowning (who.int)
- Baby and toddler safety - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
- RNLI Beach Safety – Top Five Tips To Stay Safe By The Sea
- Winter Water Safety | Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK)
In the spotlight
In this section we spotlight what is working well for settings and good examples of practice.
We would love to see your ideas to support parents and other practitioners. Please send ideas to StartWellBookings@bolton.gov.uk (mark email 'In the spotlight').
Don't forget to use the hashtag #earlyyearsinBolton in your Facebook and Twitter posts, so that we can see the great work you are doing and maybe feature it in this spot!
Hocus Pocus
Ideas for supporting transition to school
At Hocus Pocus, we recognise that transitioning to school is a big step for both children and parents, and it can bring so many emotions with it, from anxiety and worry to excitement for the next step.
Getting ready for school workshop and packs
We initiate the transition process with a crucial 'getting ready for school' workshop. This workshop is, where parents engage with our practitioners to gain a better understanding of what to expect and how to support their child at home in preparing for the transition to school. 
We provide a 'getting ready for school' transition pack for parents, giving them a timeline of what will happen and by what date. We also discussed what we will be doing in the nursery until July to support their child during transition.
The meeting proves highly beneficial for parents, giving them an idea of how to support their children and what to expect. Before a child leaves our setting, they will have a parent's evening with their child's key person. In this meeting, their child's transition to school report will be discussed, highlighting where their child is in the EYFS. Parents get a copy of this report alongside the school.
During nursery hours, our preschool room leaders plan activities to help the children understand what transition means for them. We discuss everyone's big school and designed our new school jumpers to display within the room.
Practitioners will look at the child's new school with them through the school website and discuss the school as they go. Alongside this, meetings are arranged with the child's new school so they can come and visit the child in the nursery setting.
Vicki, Hocus Pocus Day Nursery.