Today we are celebrating the first birthday of BBC Tiny Happy People, a BBC initiative and digital hub providing children with the skills they need to communicate effectively when they start school.
In England, 1 in 4 children start primary school with a level of literacy development that is lower than expected. This rises to more than 1 in 3 in some areas.[1] Research shows that when children start school behind their peers, it can be very difficult for them to catch up, which can go on to affect performance in school, job prospects and beyond
BBC Tiny Happy People ensures that children get the best start in life, and have the skills they need to communicate effectively when they start school. The activities, which are all based on evidence and expert advice, can be accessed online, and are designed to aid development from pregnancy to age five. The activities can be filtered by age and each one has a short video for families to watch as well as information on how it can boost a child’s skills.
We’re proud to be working in partnership with the BBC, KPMG UK and other organisations on this initiative.
“We’re delighted to wish BBC Tiny Happy People a very happy birthday and congratulate them on a brilliant first year. The site’s quick and inspiring activities are proven to help children’s literacy development and very much complement the work of the National Literacy Trust. We’re excited to see what the next chapter has in store!”
Jonathan Douglas CBE, Chief Executive of the National Literacy Trust
On 21 July, we’re holding an online event to encourage the business community to learn more about BBC Tiny Happy People and share easy ways for corporate partners to show their support. We will also be sharing new research from Pro Bono Economics on the importance of investment in early years, for the long term benefit of the economy. To find out more, please contact Emily McCall.
Find out more about BBC Tiny Happy People.
Discover more activities to try with your child at home on our Words for Life site.