Early Words Together face-to-face training: Programme by the National Literacy Trust, training funded by Best Start Family Hubs and delivered by Birmingham City Council Early Years & Childcare Service
Early Words Together by the National Literacy Trust is a DfE-approved programme that aims to support the communication, language, and early literacy of young children aged 3-4 through evidence-based activities which lead to improvements in their home learning environments.
The programme is delivered to small groups of families over 6 weeks, led by practitioners and volunteers. It empowers parents to develop and enrich the home learning environment and support their child's early language and literacy.
This training is FREE and suitable for all Birmingham Early Years Providers, EEE Funding Registered Day Nurseries, Nursery Schools and School Nursery Classes, Childminders, Best Start Family Hubs and Children’s Centre settings.
Please complete the expression of interest form below to apply for a place on the programme. Please note that spaces are limited, with capacity for only 10 settings to participate in Birmingham.
The programme is funded by the DfE's Best Start Family Hubs initiative and all resources for families will be provided at no extra cost.
To take part, your setting must have adequate space for families and children to work together. The programme is expected to begin in Autumn Term 2, 2026.
Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Venue: Birmingham Council House, Victoria Square
Date: Monday 19 October
Places: 10 settings - 20 practitioners can attend (two per setting)
Cost: Free
BOOK YOUR PLACE >>> Expression of Interest for Early Words Together - Academic Year 2026-27 - Fill in form
Organisation: Birmingham City Council Early Years and Childcare Service in partnership with the National Literacy Trust and Best Start Family Hubs
Contact: Kim Edwards (kim.edwards@literacytrust.org.uk), Babita Chauhan (babita.chauhan@birmingham.gov.uk) or Leesa Heeley (leesa.heeley@birmingham.gov.uk)
NOTE: This event will be delivered face-to-face at the Council House (Victoria Square)
More about the Early Words Together programme
Programme Aims
Support communication, language, and early literacy of children aged 3–4 through evidence-based activities
Improve confidence and understanding of children’s language development
Support sustained positive changes to the home learning environment (HLE)
Foster partnerships between practitioners and families, and across local systems
Close the language gap among children of different socio-economic classes
Programme Objectives
Close the language gap among children of different socio-economic statuses
Improve HLE as parents feel empowered as their child’s first educator
Foster educator-parent partnerships
Build practitioner networks using evidence-based strategies
Raise community expectations for children’s communication, language, and literacy (CLL) development
Programme Content
One-day practitioner training by the National Literacy Trust
Toolkits with six detailed session plans
Project management support including training, implementation, QA, and network facilitation
Volunteer training for peer support
Pre- and post-surveys for evaluation (provided by the Trust)
Benefits
Parental Engagement: Improved communication and mutual understanding between parents and practitioners
Parental Awareness: Parents learn the importance of play and conversation
Home Learning: Parents gain ideas and confidence to support learning at home
Child Development: Improved school readiness and classroom outcomes