Sean Delaney and Kirsty MacDonald discuss research evaluating the First Words Together programme, which aims to address the language gap in areas of high deprivation
The programme has been delivered across all ten Birmingham districts.
The programme has been delivered across all ten Birmingham districts.

By the age of three, children in the lowest income group have language skills on average 17 months behind children in the highest income group1. In response to this critical matter of equity and social mobility, the National Literacy Trust (NLT) led the development of First Words Together (FWT), a new project in partnership with Birmingham Forward Steps (with grant funding from the Department for Health and Social Care, as part of the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Fund 2020-21). It launched in 2021, aiming to address this language gap as early as possible by working with families in areas of high deprivation in Birmingham. 

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