What is the home learning environment?
The Home Learning Environment (HLE) refers to the everyday interactions, daily routines and experiences that support a child’s early communication, play, learning and relationships. It includes:
- chatting
- reading
- playing
- songs and rhymes
- creative activities
- digital experiences
- the resources and support available to families.
We need to ensure families are equipped with the resources, skills, confidence and knowledge to help their children develop and learn through the activities and the behaviours we've outlined above. Shaped by families, this is supported by services and influenced by wider social and structural conditions.
Why is the home learning environment important?
It is the quality of the home learning environment that has the most significant impact on children’s speech, language, and communication skills and their social-emotional development. We know that parents want the best for their children. Unfortunately, when families lack confidence, skills and resources it can lead to gaps in learning and wellbeing which last for a lifetime.
Strengthening the HLE can help reduce these inequalities. Children with strong early interaction, language and communication skills are more likely to build positive relationships, engage confidently with learning and access future opportunities.
High-quality HLE support therefore contributes to fairness, increased opportunity and long-term social and economic inclusion.
Our commitment to strengthening the home learning environment
At the National Literacy Trust, we know that poverty puts enormous pressure on children and families and makes it harder to create the optimal conditions or provide resources needed to support their children’s learning at home.
Our Early Words Matter campaign urgently calls on local organisations, the business community, volunteers, community leaders and government to take practical action to empower families with more opportunities, practical programmes for families, and resources and training for the early years sector.
Part of this work includes funding from the Department for Education to amplify the Best Start in Life campaign. This aims to encourage families to adopt positive HLE behaviours to boost their children’s early speech, language and communication skills. The campaign is supported by further resources, training and programmes for practitioners across the country, helping local teams to empower the families they work with.
How to get involved:
Practitioners and professionals involved in supporting families with young children, including those who plan, commission, deliver or coordinate services can download our national home learning environment (HLE) guidance commissioned by the Department for Education.
Stay in touch
Email hle@literacytrust.org.uk to find out how we can support in your area or register for our newsletter, to receive regular updates on our work.
Free early years resources and activities
Discover FREE resources and activities to share with parents. Each one of our tailored resources and ideas will help parents to support their child's development and find further support in their local area.