Books and toys bring new inspiration to preschool teachers
Wed, 26 January 2011
“During story telling time, I showed the books to the children – wow! They were very excited, naming the things they could see"
IMPACT REPORT: Biblionef South Africa – supplying mother-tongue storybooks to preschools
SASIX funding gave 903 preschool children access to age- and language-appropriate books and other resources like toys and puzzles. The 42 Early Childhood Development (ECD) practitioners who benefited from this project now have the resources to teach their children and ensure that they are prepared to enter the formal schooling system.
Impact
As highlighted in a previous report, this project reached 903 children, far more than their target of 495. The 42 practitioners at the targeted ECD centres were all trained how to use these resources effectively in the classroom as well as how to care for and maintain them. An impact evaluation of the project has been carried out and shows that:
- Teachers are highly motivated to teach reading now they have books.
- Teachers more effectively understand the importance of play in developing children and now have the appropriate educational toys to do this.
- Storytelling has become integral to the daily routine of the children. Children enjoy the books and are eager to interpret the pictures in them.
- This excitement has led to children using the resources in the book and toy area of their own accord.
- There are plans in place at a number of the ECD centres to invite Grade R children from local Primary Schools to attend the crèche after school hours, so that they get an opportunity to use the books. This will extend the benefits of this project beyond the children at the targeted ECD centres.
Biblionef are satisfied with the successful implementation of this project and are planning to roll out their model to other crèches.
Expenditure
The total cost of this project was R57 998 which has been paid in full by SASIX.
| Description | Total Budget | Total Expenditure |
| Books | 35 000 | 36 480 |
| Toys & Resource Materials | 5 000 | 5 000 |
| Steel trunks | 4 000 | 4 000 |
| Keys & locks | 300 | 450 |
| Organisational Costs | ||
| Funders acknowledgement: printing and laminating A3 and A3 poster or applying sticker in each book | 200 | 200 |
| Distribution Costs | 4 000 | 2 547 |
| Staff Time | ||
| Books Stock Librarian - Selecting ordering and packing of books | 720 | 720 |
| Project Co-ordinator - Liaison with the ECDs, selection and handover of books | 1 440 | 1 440 |
| Travel for training at Book Handover | ||
| Travel | 6 200 | 5 335 |
| Accommodation | 800 | 1 390 |
| Staff subsistence allowance | 200 | 300 |
| TOTAL | 57 860 | 57 862 |
Monitoring and evaluation
Biblionef has ensured that each of the ECD centres have received their books and toys and have a secure trunk in which to store them and ECD centres were required to submit regular reports to Biblionef on the condition of the books and their use. Biblionef have completed an impact assessment on the project and continue to make themselves available to ECD practitioners who need assistance.
Conclusions
The books and toys have been distributed to all of the ECD centres. This will make a major difference to the resources available at these centres. It is particularly encouraging that they will have access to mother-tongue story books, which is in line with ECD best practice.
