Literacy skills have a decisive influence on pupils’ academic success and social integration. Family participation in creating an environment conducive to literacy and early education is a significant factor in overcoming social exclusion and poverty. This Erasmus+ project piloted family literacy programmes in families and analysed the results for further study.

The Erasmus+ funded AVIOR project aimed to improve the basic numeracy and literacy skills of migrant children and reduce the achievement gap between native and non-native pupils, by using bilingual materials, improving teacher professional competence and enhancing migrant parental involvement. AVIOR ran from December 2016 until August 2019.

This intervention is an educational approach centred on nurturing philosophical enquiry, originally developed by Professor Matthew Lipman in the USA in 1970.

KOALA (KOordnierte ALphabetisierung im Anfangsunterricht – coordinated literacy in elementary instruction) is an innovative concept of linking literacy and multilingual competences, which has been introduced in primary schools in several German Länder. In Nordrhein-Westfalen the methodology is gradually being expanded and adapted to the changing learner populations in the cities.

Beanstalk, a Children’s Literature Charity in England, was founded in 1973. Working closely with partner schools, they recruit, train and support volunteers to provide reading support for children between ages 3 and 13.

Maltese learner support initiatives around improving literacy are set within an overall context of a National Literacy Strategy for All which sought to consolidate current national programmes which has involved over 8000 students per year. Schools are able to plan and run their own literacy support projects for their own pupils and students who may need this. These initiatives are funded through grants, mainly from the local authorities.