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RHYME AND REASON: Michelle Holden shows how the pen works to help tots learn nursery rhymes and read books

EAST Lancashire tots can now learn nursery rhymes and read books in languages as diverse as Russian and Urdu thanks to a new high-tech resource.

Children at Sure Starts, children's centres and other early years settings throughout the region can hear old favourites such as Incey Wincey Spider at the touch of a "Talking Pen" on a printed page.

Children can activate songs using the specially formatted Talking Pen - a scanner with an MP3 player inside disguised as a child's chubby crayon - which reads codes on the page invisible to the naked eye, and then play back nursery rhymes in their choice of language.

Michelle Holden, childminding network co-ordinator at Colne Children's Centre, one of the first to get the new equipment in March, said it has already made a difference to youngsters' education.

Michelle, who heads up 22 childminders across Pendle, said: "I ordered eight pens straight away because I thought they were a great idea, and they are.

"We have quite a few children whose first language is not English, and these pens really help them settle in.

"They can listen to a nursery rhyme in their own language, be it Russian, Polish or Urdu, then we sing it again in English.

"It's not just nursery rhymes. You can program the pen to be able to read classic kids' books too.

"The children love it, and it's a good way to introduce them to technology early on."

The new resource, called Sing, Sign and Rhyme, has been developed by Lancashire County Council's Sure Start Early Years and Childcare/SEN Services in collaboration with leading suppliers in the field.

Marion Bamford, who co-ordinated the project, said: "This is a new take on traditional verses and stories with pictures which relate to modern life but without losing the good old-fashioned appeal of nursery rhymes.

"The main aim is to make them accessible and relevant to under-fives, even if they don't have English as a first language or if Mum and Dad don't know the words."

Michelle said: "We use them in our childminding groups but I'm planning to loan them out so children can take them home and parents can get involved."

The books, posters and DVDs which are used with the Talking Pen also incorporate images of children using sign language to encourage communication without verbal language.

Sing, Sign and Rhyme is available to nurseries, childminders, reception classes and other Early Years settings throughout the county.

For more information e-mail resource.centre@ed.lancscc.gov.uk.

10:59am Monday 5th May 2008

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