Peters: Passionate about Inspiring Children and Young People to Read
*The following guest post represents the author’s personal view and does not necessarily represent the view of the Birmingham Early Years Networks (BEYN) as a whole. Any issues or questions arising from the content of this post should, therefore, be directed to the author and not BEYN.
Interested in writing a guest post for the BEYN blog? Visit the Write for Us page for more info.
For 90 years, Peters has been a cornerstone of Birmingham's educational and library landscape.
Starting with our first shop on Moor Street in 1935, we have dedicated ourselves to supplying books and library furniture to schools and libraries across Birmingham and beyond.
Now located on Bromsgrove Street, our mission remains unchanged: to work closely with librarians, educators and reading professionals to promote literacy and ensure the next generation of readers has access to the right books to ignite their love for learning!
Why Are Books Important?
Research underscores the significance of the early years in a child’s development.
According to BookTrust, "Children’s brains experience the most growth in their first five years. Stimulation from books, stories, and rhymes supports cognitive, physical, social, and emotional growth that extends far beyond childhood."
Books provide the foundation for exploration, imagination, and learning. They are crucial tools in creating rich, enabling environments that stimulate young minds and nurture their overall development.
Our team of librarians and children’s book specialists at Peters carefully review over 10,000 newly published titles each year.
Whether you're looking for curated book packs or want to browse an extensive collection of both classic and contemporary titles, we've got you covered.
Creating an Enabling Environment
At Peters, we provide more than just books—we help shape the environments that foster a love for learning.
The foundation of early years education lies in environments that are thoughtfully designed to inspire curiosity and foster development.
As highlighted in Development Matters 2023, “Practitioners carefully organise enabling environments for high-quality play. They make time and space available for children to invent their own play. Sometimes, they join in to sensitively support and extend children’s learning.”
Similarly, Birth to 5 Matters notes that “enabling environments offer children security, comfort, engagement, and opportunity.”
These are the principles Peters upholds in everything we do.
To complement our book offerings, we also provide a free interior design consultation for early years settings; helping you create an inspiring and playful space where children feel secure and excited to learn.
From furniture tailored for EYFS settings to creative classroom layouts, our designs encourage imaginative play and collaboration.
A well-organised environment allows children to thrive, feel engaged, and immerse themselves in play-based learning!
Whether it's through expertly selected books or beautifully designed furniture, Peters is here to help you build a space where young children flourish—where they can explore, discover, and take the first steps of their educational journey.
Supporting Early Years Across Birmingham
Peters is proud of its Birmingham heritage and deeply committed to supporting early years providers across the city.
Through our collaborations with the Birmingham Early Years Network, we have an EXCLUSIVE OFFER—settings subscribed to the Birmingham Early Years Network mailing list can claim a 30% discount on books; just one more way we can contribute to making resources accessible to early years providers (check your inbox for the code).
If you’d like to learn more about how Peters can support your early years setting, or you’re interested in our furniture and book selections, contact us at hello@peters.co.uk and arrange a visit.
George Wakeman, Customer Relationship Manager at Peters
Peters is the UK's leading specialist supplier of children's books and furniture to schools, academies, public libraries and multi-academy trusts.
George recently joined Peters after five years’ experience teaching Upper Key Stage 2 pupils at a West Midlands primary school.
Through teaching, George has developed a real love of children’s literature, recognising its importance in supporting children’s learning and enriching their lives. He will be using his experience to help other schools find the right books for their pupils.