Learning and Development

Raising Early Achievement in Literacy (REAL)

Best Start In Life logo

Making it REAL in Bolton

Raising Early Achievement in Literacy (REAL) is approved by the DfE as part of the government aim Giving every child the best start in life.

The REAL programme is part of the Bolton Best Start in Life: Plan for 2026-2029,  which states we will enhance and expand our established Evidence Based Intervention offer, including Raising Early Achievement in Literacy (REAL), the Home Learning Environment programme

 

REAL

  • Boosts children’s communication, language and early literacy development.
  • Supports parents and the home learning environment.
  • Takes a low cost/no-cost approach.
  • Is fun, engaging and accessible to all.
  • Is built around the four strands of literacy and the ORIM framework.
  • Builds practitioners and parents’ knowledge, skills and confidence to support children’s early literacy. 
REAL Logo

 

How REAL works

  • Early Years Professionals attend 2-days 'Making it REAL' training.
  • Schools and nurseries work with families through a series of home visits and literacy events.
  • During home visits and literacy events, practitioner share resources with families to demonstrate and model the four strands of literacy and the 'ORIM Framework'.

x4 images of Families in Family Hubs engaging in activities at the REAL events.

Coming soon!

Download the poster PNJ

Download the poster PDF

Half-term REAL Family Fun Activities poster

 

Check back and keep an eye on all our communications Early Years Education and Childcare Update (fortnightly newsletter), website news, and social media.

 

What's next

The next 2 day REAL training will be held:

 

Making it REAL in Bolton: Network Events

REAL network sessions are for practitioners who have already attended the 2-day REAL training and would like to get together to share good practice, new ideas, challenges and find out more about REAL both in Bolton and nationally.

Autumn term
Thursday 24th September 2026
9:15am - 10:45am
Harvey Best Start Family Hub

Spring term
Tuesday 12th January 2027
3:00pm - 4:30pm
Harvey Best Start Family Hub

Summer term
Friday, 7th May 2027
9:15am - 10:45am
Harvey Best Start Family Hub

 

Supporting Early Communication, Language, and Literacy Development at Home

Families can come along to the free Chat, Play, Read sessions (for families with children 12 months plus). At these sessions, children, parents and carers join in with songs, reading and enjoy sensory play and craft activities. The sessions are designed to help parents boost their child's communication, language, and literacy development.

These sessions are facilitated by Family Hub Practitioners, right across the borough, and continue in the school holidays - please refer to the Guide to services and activities for families in Bolton for dates, times and venues. 

 

Special Approach to Making it REAL (SMIR) for Practitioners

The SMIR workshop is facilitated by the National Children's Bureau, it's fully funded and is aimed at all early years practitioners. The workshop covers how practitioners can use the Raising Early Achievement in Literacy (REAL) approach to support children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Training is available in the autumn 2026 and spring 2027 term. Practitioners can book a place on Eventbrite:

To find out more about Special Making it REAL, visit the National Children's Bureau: Special Making it REAL.

 

Special Approach to Making it REAL (SMIR) for Parents, Carers and Guardians

Stories, Sounds, and Sensory Play is a a special approach to making it REAL workshop for parents, carers, and guardians of children 0-5 years with SEND or emerging needs. It is free to attend and held online.

Attending parents will gain ideas and resources to share as a family at home (includes a free activitiy bag):

  • Explore 7 things they can do to stretch their child's mind.
  • Encourage and recognise learning, language, and communication in everyday life.
  • Explore how to tune in to their child’s interests.
  • Discover fun, simple, low cost and no cost activities to support their child’s early language.

Parents can book a place on Stories, Sounds and Sensory Play on Eventbrite: Eventbrite - Stories, Sounds, and Sensory Play.

Poster with the information, dates times and venue for a workshop for parents with children aged 0-5 with SEND in Bolton. There is text and a QR code.

 

 

Bolton Primary Schools and Nurseries trained to deliver the REAL programme

  • All Saints CE Primary School
  • All Smiles Pre-school
  • Baby Bede Day Nursery
  • Beacon Primary School
  • Blackshaw Primary School
  • Bolton Day Nursery Bright Horizons
  • Bolton Early Years and Preschool
  • Bolton St Catherines Academy
  • Bright Futures Nursery
  • Church Road Primary School
  • Clarendon Primary School
  • Croft House Day Nursery
  • Daisy Chains Day Nursery
  • Devonshaw Road Primary School
  • Eagley School House Nursery
  • Eagley School House Nursery 2
  • Gaskell Primary School
  • Greenfold Primary School
  • Grosvenor Nursery School
  • Heaton House Nursery
  • High Lawn Primary School
  • High Meadows Day Nursery
  • Hocus Pocus Day Nursery
  • Johnson Fold CP School
  • Kearsley West Primary School
  • Kids Planet Little Lever
  • Lever Edge Primary Academy
  • Lostock Primary School
  • Moorgate Primary School
  • Pikes Lane Primary School
  • Red Lane Primary
  • Rose Cottage Nursery
  • Seymour Road Nursery 
  • Sharples Primary School
  • Starlights Daycare Nursery
  • St Ethelberts RCP
  • St George's CE Primary School
  • St James CE Primary School
  • St Matthews CofE Primary School
  • St Michaels CEP
  • St Peter & St Pauls RCP School
  • Sunning Hill Primary School
  • Super Stars Nursery
  • Taqwa Nursery
  • The Ferns Academy
  • The Gates Primary School
  • The Olive Garden Nursery
  • The Orchards Day Nursery
  • The Red House Nursery
  • The Valley CP School
  • TicTots Nursery - Case Study or View in HTML
  • Wells House Kindergarten
  • Willow Tree Nursery

 

Video clips