Building on the success of Story Cafes, a new scheme combines
reading with sensory experiences to engage families, says Lindsey
Symington.

Two years ago, Norfolk County Council developed the Story Cafe programme, which proved itself to be a really effective model of engaging parents in their children's learning. A Story Cafe is essentially an informal story session, which takes place in a 'cafe' in an early years setting or primary school, with all the features of a cafe, like refreshments. Now, we have built on the initiative's success by developing Discovery Cafes, offering stories and sensory experiences to families with children under three. They too are a hit with parents.

The decision to extend the programme was in recognition of the importance of positive parent-child interactions, particularly during the optimal period for brain development, from birth to age two.

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