A £54,000 grant will see up to 120 babies and toddlers from disadvantaged areas supported to improve their literacy and communication skills.
The funding from Oxfordshire Freemasons will support Peeple, a charity that helps parents and children to learn together.
The grant will fund two Peep baby groups in the Blackbird and Greater Leys areas of Oxford every week for three years.
The Peep Learning Together Programme helps parents and caregivers to boost their children’s early development through fun, interactive sessions.
Trials have shown the programme can help children to make two extra months’ progress in early literacy development over a five-month period, with the most disadvantaged children making an additional four months’ progress in core language and communication skills.
The groups focus on improving the home learning environment through activities such as talking, singing, playing, and sharing books and stories.
They also provide a supportive environment where parents can learn about child development and engage in activities that promote their children’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development.
Sally Smith, CEO at Peeple, said: “We’re very grateful to Oxfordshire Freemasons for their generous grant which will allow us to keep supporting the families we’re working with, and to reach more.
“The Peep Learning Together Programme is making a real difference in narrowing the gap for children and supporting parents as their child’s first and most important educator.
“This funding ensures we can continue delivering these vital services.”
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