About us

 

Our Story

Mouse Club was developed by The Parental Engagement Network (PEN), whose mission was to support schools in engaging parents, families, and communities in their children's learning and development.

In 2016/17, with support from The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, The Sutton Trust, and Oxford University, Mouse Club was trialled in over 40 early years settings and schools as part of a randomised controlled trial. It was found to significantly improve the child’s Home Learning Environment.

📄 Read more on The Sutton Trust website: Download the report

"80% of parents thought having Mouse helped to get their child ready for school."

Further work took place in 2017/18 with schools in Suffolk funded by the Suffolk Community Foundation's "Raising the Bar" fund.

📄 Read the dissemination Results.

"100% of staff said they would use Mouse and some of the resources and strategies again."

In 2018, PEN collaborated with a cluster of 10 schools in Edgeley, Stockport, to explore how networking could strengthen local parental engagement strategies. The schools appreciated the opportunity to connect and adopt a shared approach to supporting families.

"There was improved readiness to learn. More children demonstrated improved self-regulation, toilet training, using a knife and fork, could change for PE and put on their coats themselves."

Between 2019 and 2021, the OVO Foundation and Institute of Employment Studies (IES), in collaboration with Sutton Trust and Professor Kathy Sylva (University of Oxford), led an evaluation of the project’s impact on children’s communication and language. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, feedback from families and practitioners highlighted how Mouse helped with transitions and supported social-emotional development.

"I am much more confident with parents; they approach me much more to talk about their children."

In recent years, Thrive at Five and The Harpur Trust have adopted the Mouse Club to improve school nursery transitions.

"Mouse Club can serve as a valuable tool for introducing essential skills to children preparing for the transition to school or nursery. School staff appreciated the flexibility it offered, allowing them to adapt the resources to suit their school's requirements."

Read Thrive at Five's Year 2 Evaluation report

Our Approach

Inclusivity is at the heart of what we do. Mouse Club helps schools foster a sense of belonging for all children and families. It supports educators in building trust, identifying diverse needs, and providing tailored support through collaborative, home-based learning.

We design every aspect of the project to be inclusive, adaptable, and grounded in real-world challenges faced by families and early years settings.

What We Stand For

Mission

To strengthen parental engagement in the early years by providing schools and settings with joyful, inclusive home learning resources that reduce stress, spark curiosity, and empower families to support their children with confidence.

Vision

A future where every family feels connected, capable, and supported in their child’s learning journey, through meaningful partnerships with schools and simple, playful experiences at home.

Our Core Values

💛 Bringing Happiness to Families Starting School
We believe starting school should be a joyful milestone for every child and family.

🌱 Supporting Families to Take Charge of Their Own Learning
We create resources that empower—not overwhelm—parents and caregivers.

♻️ Providing Resources That Are Sustainable
We’re committed to high-quality digital resources that schools can use again and again.

🌍 Promoting Inclusive Learning Opportunities
Every family deserves access to meaningful, culturally sensitive learning support.

🎨 Celebrating Creativity to Enhance Family Wellbeing
We champion imaginative, playful learning to build stronger emotional bonds.

Our Impact

To date, Mouse Club has supported over 50,000 children with home learning and school readiness. More than 160 schools have used the resources to strengthen early years transition and engage families meaningfully.

If you think Mouse Club could help your setting or community, email us at hello@mouseclub.co.uk to arrange a chat!. We’re always happy to share case studies and offer support in delivering the project.