We are currently piloting Letterbox Extra: this is a pilot project to extend the Letterbox Club to children with special educational needs.
Currently the Letterbox Club sends parcels containing books, story CDs, maths games and items of stationery, once a month for 6 months, to looked-after children in Year 3 (aged 7/8) and Year 5 (aged 9/10) and other vulnerable children who need additional support. The parcels are suitable for children working at National Curriculum levels 1 to 4.
‘Letterbox Extra’ would extend the Letterbox Club to children who are working below Level 1; most of the children will have a statement of special educational needs. ‘Letterbox Extra’ will provide maths activities that concentrate on counting with numbers smaller than 10, recognising numbers, and writing numbers. Books and CDs will be chosen that are age-appropriate, but that can be used by children who have not started independent reading.
Following the pilot year, the parcels will be available in 2010 by subscription across the UK, in the same pattern as Letterbox Club at a cost of £115 per child per year.
The development of materials and the evaluation is being carried out by the University of Leicester School of Education. Progress on this pilot will be available on our website later in the year.
