What is Booktime?
Who are Booktime book packs for?
How are Booktime book packs ordered and delivered?
When will Booktime book packs be delivered to schools?
Is there any cost to the school or to the children/families or schools/libraries?
What if our school doesn’t receive a delivery?
What do I do if there aren't enough book packs in my delivery?
What about pupils starting school later in the school year?
We are an independent school, how do we register for packs?
Is there another book available for children in reception class / primary 1 with special or additional needs?
What materials are available to support parents and carers with English as a Second or Other Language (ESOL)?
What is Booktime?
Booktime is a free books programme, managed and administered by independent charity Booktrust. Booktime provides a free book pack from education and publishing company Pearson to every eligible child aged 4-5 years in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Booktrust and Pearson are piloting Booktime in Wales for the first time this year.
Booktime encourages children and families to enjoy reading together for fun and for pleasure.
You can find out more about Booktime - including the contents of the book packs and resources, and government support - at the links below:
For general enquiries about Booktime, please email booktime@booktrust.org.uk
Who are Booktime book packs for?
Booktime book packs are intended for reception or Primary 1 aged children to take home and share with family and friends. Booktime will provide book packs for:
- Every eligible child (4- to 5-years-old) due to start school during the school year 2009-10. Book packs are for reception class pupils in England, and Primary 1 pupils in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
This includes state, independent, voluntary, private or special needs schools, and covers second and third intakes
- All eligible children (aged 4-5 years) who may not currently be attending mainstream education, such as: Elective Home Educated, Looked After, and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Children; and those in children’s hospices or attending hospital schools.
Due to increasing orders in previous years, Booktime request that schools order book packs only for eligible children, if they did not receive enough in their first delivery. Booktime cannot provide book packs for Nursery or Year 1 children, even if these classes are mixed with reception or Primary 1.
How are Booktime book packs ordered and delivered?
Schools do not need to order book packs – they will be sent automatically to every primary school with a reception class in England, and every school with a Primary 1 class in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Book packs and support materials will be delivered to schools either directly or via Local Authority central delivery points.
When will Booktime book packs be delivered to schools?
In England, Scotland and two Wales pilot authorities:
Book packs will be delivered to schools over several weeks at the start of the autumn school term 2009. Your school details and order should be on our system, but if your school has not received a delivery by mid-November 2009 (if you are in England) or by 25 September (if you are in Scotland), please contact the Booktime Helpline. The helpline details are: 01279 623 096 or booktimehelpline@pearson.com. We will aim to fulfill your order shortly afterwards.
In Northern Ireland:
Book packs will be delivered during the spring term 2010. Schools will be contacted at the start of the school term with details of the helpline and the deadline for re-orders.
More information
Wondering how independent schools sign up for Booktime?
Not sure what to do if your book packs haven't arrived yet, or if there aren't enough book packs in your delivery?
Looking for community language resources?
Try our Additional Information for Schools.
