Introduction to Making it REAL

What is an Introduction to Making it REAL (Raising Early Achievement in Literacy​)

The original REAL project was developed by Dr Cathy Nutbrown, who later worked with the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) to develop the Making it REAL programme to support families of children aged two to five years, with Peter Hannon's ORIM framework, to strengthen families' awareness of the power of the home learning environment to raise early achievement in literacy.​

An Introduction to Making it REAL:

• An evidence-based, award-winning programme that boosts children's communication, language and early literacy development.​
• Increases family-facing partners' knowledge, skills, and confidence, helping to support families to create a positive early home learning environment.
• Increases parental knowledge and confidence in supporting their children's home learning environment, supporting their development.
• Focuses on meaningful communication and literacy, which children can make sense of and enjoy as part of their everyday lives.
• Fun, engaging, low- or no-cost approach that is inclusive and accessible.

Sessions use the ORIM framework to highlight the importance of everyday experiences and their role in development, with a focus on early literacy.

An Introduction to Making it REAL sessions support family-facing partners to develop:

• Opportunities for children’s literacy development by sharing ideas for making children’s books and writing materials available and accessible in the home environment.
• Recognition and encouragement of children’s literacy milestones by those around them.
• Positive interactions with children and families, to support real-life literacy tasks.
• As models of literacy, so children see families using literacy in everyday life.

How is an Introduction to Making it REAL taking place across the county?

We aim to deliver a countywide rollout of an 'Introduction to Making it REAL' as part of the council’s primary approach to supporting children’s early communication, language, and literacy skills by supporting their home learning environment.​

​Our ambition is to support all those who interact with children, from birth to five years, across Cambridgeshire to give them the knowledge, skills and confidence to create a positive home learning environment using the REAL project's strands of literacy, and the ORIM framework as part of the Introduction to Making it REAL course. ​

Where can I join Making it REAL sessions as a parent or carer?

Find a Making it REAL session on our 50 Things to Do local events, or reach out to Philippa.Sutton-Eddery@cambridgeshire.gov.uk to ask about Making it REAL in your area.

• Child and Family Centres: How Are You Cambridge? | Child and Family Centres / Cambridgeshire Online | Results.
• Home-Start Cambridgeshire.

I am a family-facing practitioner in Cambridgeshire. How can I become trained in an Introduction to Making it REAL?

"The trainers are amazing, cheerful and creative with a vast knowledge, and it is a real pleasure to be taking part in." – Playground Assistant.

The course is a full day or three evening online sessions – we have mixed availability of face-to-face and online.

Booking and reservations for Early Years Workforce Development.

Please contact Philippa.Sutton-Eddery@cambridgeshire.gov.uk with any questions.