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South Lanarkshire launches Bookshine programme for deaf children | Latest Scottish news news from Scotland | stv.tv News
The South Lanarkshire Bookstart scheme has introduced a new Bookshine pack aimed at deaf and hard of hearing children.
Over the past ten years the Bookstart programme has been giving free books and guidance materials to babies and toddlers up to five years of age.
To mark the launch of the new initiative, Hamilton School for the Deaf hosted a "Bookstart Rhymetime" session where pupils, staff and parents could interact through a variety of songs and rhymes using materials suited for deaf and hearing impaired children.
Jackie McGuire, Hamilton School for the Deaf's head teacher, said in a statement: "The Bookshine books all have colourful illustrations and some have different textures to touch and feel. Deaf children often learn in a very visual way, so encouraging an interest in reading at an early age can be crucial in their development."
In the UK there are 35,000 registered deaf or hearing impaired children with 90% of them having hearing parents with little experience of deafness. The new scheme aims to encourage all parents and carers to enjoy books with children from an early age.
The Bookshine pack includes a touch and feel book, a book featuring simple British Sign Language signs and an image of a child with a hearing aid to allow deaf and hearing impaired children to see themselves in books.
Gaynor Adam, Bookstart coordinator, said: "All babies and children should be given the opportunity to learn about the joys of reading. We are very proud to be expanding the existing Bookstart range by offering parents of deaf children a selection of specially chosen books and advice.
"Bookstart aims to foster a love of books through a range of fun activities like Bookstart Rhymetimes and the Bookstart Book Crawl."
Councillor Mary Smith, chair of education resources, said: "We are confident that the new Bookshine pack will provide many more families with the motivation and advice they need to help their children enjoy books from an early age."
The South Lanarkshire Bookstart scheme has introduced a new Bookshine pack aimed at deaf and hard of hearing children.
Over the past ten years the Bookstart programme has been giving free books and guidance materials to babies and toddlers up to five years of age.
To mark the launch of the new initiative, Hamilton School for the Deaf hosted a "Bookstart Rhymetime" session where pupils, staff and parents could interact through a variety of songs and rhymes using materials suited for deaf and hearing impaired children.
Jackie McGuire, Hamilton School for the Deaf's head teacher, said in a statement: "The Bookshine books all have colourful illustrations and some have different textures to touch and feel. Deaf children often learn in a very visual way, so encouraging an interest in reading at an early age can be crucial in their development."
In the UK there are 35,000 registered deaf or hearing impaired children with 90% of them having hearing parents with little experience of deafness. The new scheme aims to encourage all parents and carers to enjoy books with children from an early age.
The Bookshine pack includes a touch and feel book, a book featuring simple British Sign Language signs and an image of a child with a hearing aid to allow deaf and hearing impaired children to see themselves in books.
Gaynor Adam, Bookstart coordinator, said: "All babies and children should be given the opportunity to learn about the joys of reading. We are very proud to be expanding the existing Bookstart range by offering parents of deaf children a selection of specially chosen books and advice.
"Bookstart aims to foster a love of books through a range of fun activities like Bookstart Rhymetimes and the Bookstart Book Crawl."
Councillor Mary Smith, chair of education resources, said: "We are confident that the new Bookshine pack will provide many more families with the motivation and advice they need to help their children enjoy books from an early age."