Pre-school children are being taught pre-literacy skills, which will help them to read and write once they enter formal schooling, through the City libraries' Ready to Read programme.

Ready to Read seeks to encourage pre-scholars to start reading

READY TO READ, a programme aimed at enhancing the pre-literacy skills of pre-schoolers, has been introduced at 65 City libraries. It entails lending books to day-care centres, crèches and nursery schools.

"Reading is fundamental to the success of the individual and the country," notes Cavelle Carmichael, the manager of library programmes and projects. Together with writing, reading forms the basis of learning in the South African education system, she explains.

It will help the children to improve their language skills and comprehension, and enhance their general knowledge. "Many of our children come from homes and schools without books and they do not have the attitudes and skills that come from living in a language- and print-rich environment," Carmichael says. The Ready to Read programme will provide such a platform.

It introduces pre-schoolers to the magic of books, "by providing appealing books that teachers and caregivers can share enthusiastically with their children".

The programme guides teachers and parents in the use of reading material

She believes that for children to succeed at school, they need pre-literacy skills, which the programme will boost. "Pre-literacy covers far more than a child's ability to identify letters, numbers, or shapes." It entails important skills such as spoken language and the awareness of sounds, including the knowledge of alphabets and an understanding of common print concepts.

Research has found that by the age of five, most children have already learned about 5 000 words, which are predominantly learned through verbal interaction.

Ready to Read has been tailored to help children from disadvantaged communities. "The programme gives children in disadvantaged communities who do not have access to books a head start in preparation for reading and academic success," Carmichael says.

This is done through the provision of reading materials; training of library staff so that they are able to guide teachers in the use of the materials provided; and guiding teachers and caregivers in the use of the materials provided through talks and workshops and a manual to support the development of pre-literacy skills.

Library staff are trained to guide teachers in how to use the books

"It aims to co-operate with teachers and caregivers in order to compensate for the lack of experience of books in some children's lives by providing the books and assistance to ensure that they achieve the necessary pre-literacy skills so that by the time they go to school they are ‘Ready to Read,'" she explains.

Books used in the programme target children between the ages of three to six. They include picture books, dictionaries, poster books, fairy tales and folktales, and are in English and other official languages.

"Library staff are trained to guide teachers in how to use the books with their children and a manual for teachers offering guidance in the use of the materials is provided," Carmichael says.

For further information about the Ready to Read programme, telephone Tsakane Shiburi, the regional manager of library and information services, on 011 226 0952, or Cavelle Carmichael, the manager of library programmes and projects, on 011 226 0935.

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