News

Audiobooks Improve Literacy

Audiobooks can benefi t children’s reading skills, according to new research published by the charity, the National Literacy Trust. The report looks at the advantages of listening to a recording of a novel being read, and the impact on young readers. The research suggests that listening to a recorded story requires the same mental skills as reading in print, so audiobooks can help with understanding words and remembering information. They can also give children access to a broader range of texts and engage readers who might be reluctant, struggling or developing. Emily Best, from the National Literacy Trust, said: “Audiobooks can be the key to unlocking a child’s love of reading. They enable children of all reading abilities and interests to access and explore the incredible world of stories, which are brought to life by a range of exciting voices, diff erent accents and sound eff ects.”

More info: www.literacytrust.org.uk

New Divorce Laws Good for Children

New divorce laws, expected to commence in autumn 2021, will help reduce family confl ict and be benefi cial for children, according to the government. Divorcing couples will no longer have to “blame” each other for the breakdown of their marriage. Current divorce laws require one spouse to provide evidence of ‘unreasonable behaviour’ even where a couple has made a mutual decision to part ways. A new law will enable couples to divorce without making accusations of bad behaviour, by giving notice that a marriage has broken down irretrievably. Justice Secretary David Gauke said: “Hostility and confl ict between parents leave their mark on children and can damage their life chances.” The relationship charity Relate believes the current fault-based system often results in increased animosity, making it harder for ex-partners to develop positive relationships as co-parents. More info: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-divorce-law-to-endthe-blame-game

Central London Crowned the Greenest City in the UK

Central London has topped the list as the greenest UK city. The new Green Cities Index study by apartment rental brand Essential Living has revealed which UK and European cities and London Boroughs are leading the way when it comes to green space for residents to enjoy. Each city and borough within the study was awarded points based on elements such as air quality, pollution, quality of life, life expectancy, and green spaces. A weighting system was then applied to the scores to calculate just how much green space there is in the immediate area to give the fi nal ranking out of 60. From parks and gardens to pollution rankings there are so many factors that make a city green. Central London came out as the greenest UK city scoring 36 out of 60. The borough ranked highly on the number of parks, gardens, and playgrounds. The results show that the larger the population, the more green space there is available. Each of the UK’s four nations was represented in the top six, with London, Birmingham, and Leeds taking fi rst, second and third positions. Cardiff coming fourth, Glasgow taking fi fth spot and Belfast taking sixth.

https://www.essentialliving.co.uk/

Calling all Baby Scientists!

Help us discover how babies & kids learn! We’re recruiting infants from birth to school age to take part in fun studies at the Birkbeck Babylab in central London. Our prime location is easy to reach via public transport and we refund travel expenses. 020 7631 6258 • babylab@bbk.ac.uk www.cbcd.bbk.ac.uk

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