Contact Eileen McKenzie, Children’s Services, Stirling Council, Viewforth, Stirling FK8 2ET, tel 01786 442667 e-mail mckenziee@stirling.gov.uk

The report Early Intervention: a celebration of early literacy documents the literacy programme developed by Stirling Council. Written by Lesley Gibb, the council’s early intervention co-ordinator, it matches practical examples of how Stirling schools improved literacy skills among very young children with the strategies they used. It complements an existing staff development pack, but stands well alone.

The stated purpose of the report is to outline the key elements of the authority’s model for early intervention, share examples of good practice that support the development of early literacy skills and offer recommendations for developing approaches to early literacy teaching and learning based on findings from Stirling’s early intervention pilot project. The tried and tested practices of the pilot give the report its strength. It is practical and generously illustrated with colour photographs and examples of children’s writing which exemplify the points made in the text.

The report is divided into four main sections: creating a literacy environment, supporting the development of children’s early reading, and writing, and developing a partnership approach. Within each section the major focus is on practical ideas and activities - some individual, some group and some whole class - for developing children’s skills and confidence. There is a wealth of ideas that could be used by schools and interested parents at home.

This is followed by a description of some of the benefits of the strategies used in the pilot. This has the effect of legitimising the approach, for the benefit of any sceptics, and lending an air of authority to the report. Each section concludes with examples from practice, written in more detail.

This is an excellent overview of early intervention practices in developing early literacy skills, easily followed and full of good ideas.

Fiona Harrison is a Glasgow-based literary specialist