Paul Gobey on how we can celebrate 20 years of a reading project for young children

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Bookstart, we are asking parents/carers to pledge to share 20 books with their children in 2012. Bookstart is a national programme which encourages parents and carers to share books, stories and rhymes with children from as early an age as possible to inspire every child to develop a lifelong love of reading. Bookstart offers free books to all children at two key stages of development: 0 to 12 months and three to four years as they progress from home to school. It is delivered by a partnership of libraries, early years services and health. The focus is on the development of early language and literacy skills with the emphasis on partnership delivery through children's centres, libraries, early years settings and the foundation stages at school.

The principles that drive the partnership are: Access to early years books; developing the awareness of the role played by books in young children's development; and giving parents/carers and early years workers the confidence to provide stimulating and enjoyable use of books. It is estimated that in the 20 years of Bookstart, 30 million free books have been gifted. In Leicester last year 13,428 Bookstart packs/books were gifted through our partnership and 2,000 families borrowed early years books via the community book loan scheme.

Leicester Libraries' services can now be accessed through children's centres, with 30,000 books lent and 2,000 new members last year. The Fatherhood Institute found that for 64 per cent of babies aged six months, the Bookstart pack was the first book to enter the family's house and the first encouragement for parents and carers to read with their child. After receiving the packs the families shared books with their babies, sang songs and rhymes and visited and joined the library.

Targeted provision is essential – many families need additional support to access and share books with their children. The shared aim is to encourage reading for pleasure because this is a more important indicator of a child's future success than any socio-economic factor and all children deserve to flourish and achieve.

Bookstart recognises the importance of home learning and works with local library/children's centre staff, health visitors and early years workers to support parents/carers by encouraging them in the role as their child's first and most enduring teacher. Enjoying books, stories and rhymes together aids educational, social and emotional development.

Bookstart is worth supporting. So visit your local under-fives activity sessions – Toddler Times in the city, Wriggly Readers in the county – and make your pledge to share books with your child this year. For more information visit:

www.leicester.gov.uk/libraries

www.leics.gov.uk/libraries

Paul Gobey is library manager, children services, for Leicester libraries.