The earliest years of a child’s life are a vital time when brains develop rapidly and foundations are laid for the future. Your Baby and You is a unique programme which helps parents support their baby's development through everyday opportunities and play.
What is the Your Baby and You approach?
The four-week programme comprises weekly two-hour workshops for parents with babies aged 0-1 years old. At the workshops, parents learn about and take part in activities with their babies based on the four strands of early literacy: Communication and Language; Songs, Rhymes and Music; Books; and Early Mark-Making.
Throughout the programme the ‘ORIM’ framework is shared with parents (Opportunities, Recognition, Interaction and Model) which outlines the four main ways in which parents can help their children’s development.

How was Your Baby and You developed?
Your Baby and You was developed using learning from Making it REAL (Raising Early Achievement in Literacy), an evidence-based programme developed by NCB and the University of Sheffield, you can find out more information here.
Making it REAL focuses on young children aged 2-5 years; and our work with families as part of this identified that a similar programme for babies was needed.
Your Baby and You, originally called ‘Supporting Babies’ Next Steps’, was first delivered through Lambeth Early Action Partnership (LEAP) as part of the National Lottery Community Fund’s A Better Start initiative.
Recent Projects
Over 100 families have been reached through Your Baby and You in Lambeth and Lewisham, London. In 2025 the programme will be delivered in three new London Local Authorities.
Your Baby and You in your area
NCB early years specialists deliver Your Baby and You directly to families in local areas (typically in Children Centres or other similar venues). We can also train early years professionals to deliver Your Baby and You in their own local areas.
Contact
For further information about Your Baby and You, please email [email protected]
Your Baby and You Learning Report
Your Baby and You, originally called ‘Supporting Babies’ Next Steps’, was first delivered through Lambeth Early Action Partnership (LEAP) as part of The National Lottery Community Fund’s A Better Start initiative.