A Sure Start with Books

The final stage of Bookstart longitudinal studies takes a random sample of 43 pupils who had been given Bookstart packs at the age of nine months. This group is matched with a comparison group, selected on strict criteria, and the performances of both groups in their Key Stage 1 SATS is compared. On both teacher assessment measures and test results the Bookstart group are ahead of the comparison group to a significant degree. Thus the research corroborates previous Bookstart studies and those which show that children who have a head start at school age remain ahead as their primary education continues. The implication is that book‐gifting and advice to parents, when babies are about nine months of age, is a cost effective way of raising standards.