Development process

Let's read mascots The development of the Let's Read initiative began in 2003 and has involved:

A literature review
Community consultations
A reference group
A feasibility study

The literature review was conducted to ensure that the initiative was based on the research evidence. It examined what the research suggested about how literacy outcomes for disadvantaged children can be improved by promoting home-based literacy activities during the years prior to school entry. A particular focus was on identifying those factors or activities that influence children in their efforts to acquire conventional “print literacy” knowledge as distinct from how they acquire language.

The recent research evidence suggests that promoting specific literacy-related activities during the years prior to school entry can improve future literacy outcomes for children in disadvantaged communities. Based on these findings, it is concluded that the Let's Read initiative should include all of the following key components:

Shared reading between child and care giver;
Easy accessibility to age appropriate free books;
Professional involvement to convey guidance messages and model shared reading practices to parents;
Built upon an emergent literacy framework, which promotes emergent literacy knowledge skills and environments, including language abilities, letter sound/name knowledge, phonological awareness and conventions of print; and
Community involvement to assist in the sustainability of a community-based early literacy program.

The following Let's Read literature review documents can be accessed:

Let's Read Literature Review (full copy) (PDF 460KB)
Let's Read Literature Review Executive Summary (PDF 213KB)
Let's Read Literature Review Summary of Key Findings (PDF 81KB)

Information from the Literature Review has been used in the “Community Paediatric Review” publication which is produced by the Centre for Community Child Health for Maternal and Child Health Nurses, across Australia. To view this edition click here (PDF 108KB).

Using the findings from the literature, feedback from the reference group and community consultation, Let's Read was conceptualised.

Having conceptualised the components, a feasibility study was undertaken to examine the training and resourcing of community-based professionals component of Let's Read. The findings from the feasibility study were affirming of the directions of the Let's Read initiative. The Let's Read Feasibility Report can be accessed:

Let's Read Feasibility Report (PDF 167KB)