Last updated: April 2026

Review date: April 2027

Why Books?

EYFS Section 1.5 – The Learning and Development Requirements - 1.5 Literacy

‘Literacy development involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write. Children must be given access to a wide variety of reading materials (books, poems, and other written materials) to ignite their interest.’

At Paint Pots we want children to experience the fun, interest and excitement of using books either alone, shared together or in groups. It is our role to support children in developing an understanding and enjoyment of books and what they are for. We want to build a lifelong love of books in each child.

Book Corner / Supplies

• It is important to have a dedicated book area, however small it is, available at all times for each age group. An exciting book corner is part of the basic early year’s provision and should encourage both adults and children to use it frequently.
• Practitioners need to spend time planning and maintaining the area, and books need to be tidied and changed This is the responsibility of the designated librarian in each setting. Damaged books need to be skillfully and quickly mended or withdrawn; children need books to be in good condition. It is the librarian’s responsibility, working with the teams, to ensure that books with ripped or torn pages, beyond repair are replaced on an ongoing and weekly basis.
• There needs to be a central store of books from which to replace damaged Stocks needs to be monitored by the librarian and the need for more books requested when these are low.
• A lending library must be available for all parents to access with a range of different books both fiction and non-fiction and a selection for all ages. The books must be in good condition and rotated regularly ensuring they are inclusive. Parents must be made aware that books are available for them to borrow and any support offered should it be needed.

Types of Books

• Books must be appropriate for the age and stage of each room’s children and there must be a range of book types available to (See guidance from ‘Words for Life’ or Reading guidance on the parent information section of the website or ‘Tiny Happy People’.)
• Favourite books should be available all the time. Our core books are listed separately and we would expect many of these or books of a similar quality, to be part of your offering. Do feel free to add to the list. New titles and books to support topics should also be introduced.
• When considering which books to include, we should check each one to make sure we are clear what the children will learn from it. If we cannot answer this question then this book should not be used.

Areas to consider are –

• Language development, rhythm, rhyme, poems
• Use of imagination, drama
• Teaching about feelings and emotions – fun, happiness, fear, loss, kindness, sympathy, getting cross and calming down etc
• Reflecting cultures, diversity, equal opportunities, role modelling