Bookbug for the Home training

This course is for practitioners and volunteers working in the community to support individual families. The training will enable them to enhance their family support work with songs, rhymes and stories. Bookbug for the Home is a flexible approach that can be used to support mums, dads and carers with sharing songs, rhymes and stories with their children (0-5 years old), particularly where they face barriers to participation due to their personal circumstances. The course provides all of the theoretical and practical knowledge, and resources they will need to deliver Bookbug activities while working one to one with a family, either in a family’s home or digitally. This course is aimed at practitioners and volunteers who do not have a lot of experience with sharing songs, rhymes and stories.

Our interactive training is a balance of practical exercises and researched-based theory about book sharing, music and child development.

Although delegates will participate in songs and rhymes in the group, delegates will not be asked to sing on their own.

Please note that this training course is not for those who wish to run Bookbug Sessions with groups of families. If you are interested in delivering Bookbug Sessions, please see our page on Bookbug Session Leader Training(this will open in a new window). If you are already a trained Bookbug Session Leader, we may not be able to offer you a place on this training course as our funding is limited and we may need to prioritise those who have received no previous training with Bookbug.

If you have already attended Bookbug for the Home training, and are looking for a refresher, please register for Bookbug for the Home Refresher training.

Course details

Course objectives

The course will offer a range of learning opportunities for delegates to:

• Build their understanding of the importance of songs, rhymes and stories for both children and families
• Learn and practise songs and rhymes, and consider how to build these activities into their current practice to encourage families to sing and rhyme
• Explore a range of picture books and practise reading aloud
• Signpost families to Bookbug Sessions and online resources

Format & length

5 hours & 30 minutes, comprised of

• 2 x 2 hour live interactive online sessions, a week apart. Attendance is required at both to complete Bookbug for the Home training. There will be a comfort break halfway through each session.
• 1 hour 30 minutes of self-directed learning (30 minutes of work before the first live session, 1 hour of work after the first live session.)

Cost

Funded at no cost for participants

How to apply for Bookbug for the Home training

Due to high demand, spaces on our public Bookbug for the Home training is awarded through an application process.

Who can apply?

Applicants must:

• Be affiliated with an organisation, either as a member of staff or a volunteer, which will support the applicant’s use of Bookbug for the Home
• Be planning to use the Bookbug for the Home approach with families with children (0-5 years old), not just with children by themselves.
• Be over 16
• Be a member of the PVG scheme(this will open in a new window)

This training course is aimed at family support workers, early years workers, social workers and social work assistants, members of health visiting teams, speech and language therapists, prison visitor centre staff and other family outreach workers, as well as volunteers who work in such capacities.

What are we looking for in your application?

Your application will be judged on:

• The eligibility criteria listed above
• Indication of need: In order to ensure that our funded places have the greatest impact, we want to know why the place is needed and who you will engage with Bookbug for the Home. For instance, how are you targeting families who are most in need of support with songs, rhymes and book sharing?
• Your commitment to start using Bookbug for the Home within 2 months of being trained
• Your local authority area: We aim to make sure that Bookbug for the Home reaches as wide a range of people as possible and are spread throughout every local authority in Scotland.
• The number of applications from one organisation: if we get multiple applications from one organisation/location, we may need to limit the number of spaces offered to that organisation on our public courses, or if you have a large number of eligible applicants, you can make a request for the course to be delivered in-house to members of your organisation (see below).

Application Form

The online application form must be completed in one attempt so it is strongly recommended that the applicant prepares answers to all the questions before attempting to complete the online application form. You can download a copy of the questions below.(this will open in a new window)

This application should only be completed by the prospective delegate. If you are awarded a place on a training course, this is not transferable to another member of staff - it is for the named person only.

Upcoming application periods

The dates for the next round of applications will be advertised here as soon as they are confirmed.

Early Autumn applications: For training courses taking place in August and September 2022

We will open for applications for Bookbug for the Home training sessions taking place in August and September 2022 on Monday 4 July at 10am until Monday 18 July 2022 at 12pm.

The exact training dates are to be confirmed.

Check back on Monday 4 July for access to the application form and details of the training dates.

Late Autumn applications: For training courses taking place in October to December 2022

We will open for applications for Bookbug for the Home training sessions taking place October to December 2022 on Monday 15 August at 10am until Monday 29 August 2022 at 12pm.

The exact training dates are to be confirmed.

Check back on Monday 15 August for access to the application form and details of the training dates.

Past training application periods

Summer applications: For training courses taking place in May & June 2022

• Tuesday 3 May 2022, 10am - 12pm & Tuesday 10 May 2022, 10am - 12pm (MS Teams)
• Tuesday 3 May 2022, 2pm - 4pm & Tuesday 10 May 2022, 2pm - 4pm (Zoom)
• Monday 23 May 2022, 10am - 12pm & Monday 30 May 2022, 10am - 12pm (MS Teams)
• Thursday 23 June 2022, 10am - 12pm & Thursday 30 June 2022, 10am - 12pm (Zoom)

We are now closed for applications for the above dates. If you have submitted an application, you will hear the result by Friday 29 April 2022 at the latest.

Accessing the online training session

Technical requirements

To attend this session you will need -

• You will need a computer, laptop or tablet that has a camera and microphone, and you are required to be seen and heard to participate. If you don't turn your microphone and camera on, you may be asked to leave the training session. If you have the option, a laptop or computer is better. A mobile phone is not suitable due to the format of the training.
• To be able to access Zoom(this will open in a new window) or MS Teams(this will open in a new window) (depending on the platform of the session you registered for). Before the session starts, please check if your organisation allows access to Zoom or MS Teams using work devices. If it does not, we suggest that you use a personal device if appropriate.
• A stable internet connection. If your wi-fi is unstable, you might want to consider plugging your computer directly into your router.
• A quiet space in which to participate in the session. If one of your colleagues is also participating in the session, please make sure you are in separate rooms as your microphones will cause a feedback loop when both are turned on near to each other.

What to expect at an online training session

For our online training course, you need to have a device that connects to the internet with working audio, camera and microphone. The trainer and other delegates will be able to see you and speak with you directly and you will be able to directly participate. All attendees must be registered individually on the training course and participate on their own individual devices. The number of people attending is limited to a maximum of 8 people.

Request an inhouse Bookbug for the Home training course

If you have between 6 and 8 eligible delegates in your organisation, you can email us(this will open in a new window) to request a fully funded in-house Bookbug for the Home training course. We have a limited number of courses we can offer so we cannot guarantee your request will be successful. Training requests are reviewed in the last week of every month.

More training and information

Sign up for our regular Working with Bookbug(this will open in a new window) newsletter to be notified when the next round of applications are open or view the rest of our Bookbug training courses(this will open in a new window).(this will open in a new window)

If you have any questions or you need additional support with the application process, please contact the Bookbug team at bookbugtraining@scottishbooktrust.com(this will open in a new window) or 0131 524 0179.