Learning and Development

Making it REAL in Bolton

This programme is linked to both the Early years education recovery programme: supporting the sector which includes training for the Home Learning Environment (HLE) and the Family Hub Programme, with funding to support Early Language and Home Learning Environment.

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.

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'.

 

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, families can take part in song time, hear stories, and enjoy sensory play and craft activities. The sessions are designed to help parents promote their child's communication, language, and literacy development.

These sessions are facilitated by Family Hub Practitioners and continue in the school holidays (Feb half-term 2025).

Session information below valid January - March 2025.

For more information, see our Guide to services and activities for families in Bolton. Information about Toddler Tales and Chat, Play, Read can be found on page 39. Information about National Storytelling Week and World Book Day events can be found on page 43.

Bolton Primary Schools and Nurseries Delivering 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
• Croft House Day Nursery
• Eagley School House Nursery
• Eagley School House Nursery 2
• Gaskell 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
• Ladybirds Nursery
• Lever Edge Primary Academy
• Moorgate Primary School
• Pikes Lane Primary School
• Red Lane Primary
• Rose Cottage Nursery
• Seymour Road Nursery 
• Sharples Primary School
• 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
• The Ferns Academy
• The Gates Primary School
• The Olive Garden Nursery
• The Red House Nursery
• The Valley CP School
• TicTots Nursery - Case Study or View in HTML
• Wells House Kindergarten
• Willow Tree Nursery

What's next

If you'd like to get involved, keep a look out in the Start Well News, Courses page and Early Years Update Email (Subscribe to receive it here) for the next REAL 2-day training dates.

The next 2 day REAL training will be held in the autumn term.

To find out more, visit: Making it REAL in Bolton – Bolton Start Well.

Making it REAL in Bolton: Network Events

Spring term
Thursday 23 January 2025
9:30am - 11:00am
Lever Edge Primary School 

Summer term
Wednesday 30 April 2025
9:30am - 11:00am
Harvey Start Well Centre

Autumn term
TBC
TBC
TBC