Tips by Text, Engaging Parents in Early Learning – Second Trial

Tips by Text was developed and it is implemented by the Behavioural Insight Teams (BIT). It adapts to the UK context the READY4K! intervention that was successfully implemented in California (USA). It consists of a 9 month text curriculum to the parents of Reception children, sending 3 texts per week containing simple and practical activities to do at home with their children. Every week the messages centre on a particular topic for example letter recognition, counting or managing emotions.

Evidence shows that the home learning environment in early years is as important, and perhaps, more important than the school environment for the development of children’s academic and emotional skills. The project expects to change parents’ attitudes towards children learning and ultimately to positively affect literacy and numeracy skills, as well as other socio-emotional skills. As is other “nudge” education intervention, the programme expects the impact to be larger among children with disadvantaged characteristics, such as for example, socio-economic disadvantage and having English as an Additional Language (EAL).