The home-school connection in the development of early literacy is fundamental. Most educators recognize that children learn in a social-constructivist way, giving meaning to the world around them. However, there is often a disconnect between the literacy practices of homes, communities, and cultures and those of schools (McNaughton, 2011). It is essential that the home-school bond is nurtured and promoted. This will lead to students gaining more opportunities to learn and extend their literacy skills. This gap between the literacy practices that students engage with at home, versus those at school, can be reduced through: • Promoting the role families play in literacy development • Teachers working collaboratively with families • Educators who relate and develop literacy practices that relate to the child's understanding and interest. This essay will explore the main points essential to early literacy development, with particular attention to students from Indigenous and non-English speaking backgrounds. Parents are the child's first and most influential educators. Families play a fundamental role in promoting the use and development of literacy. The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) discusses the importance of the influence of families by stating that: Parents are their children's first and most influential educators (DEEWR, 2009). All parents participate in their children's literacy learning from birth and ultimately want the child to become as literate as possible (Fellows & Oakley, 2010). Research studies suggest that families play a central role in developing literacy skills. A report from the American National Early Literacy Panel found that families who regularly; involve children in elaborate conversations, modele...... middle of paper......). Literacy in early childhood and primary education: problems, challenges, solutions. Melbourne: Cambridge University Press.McNaughton, S. (2011). Designing better schools for culturally and linguistically diverse children: A performance science model for research. London: Routledge.National Early Literacy Panel (United States). and National Center for Family Literacy (United States). development of the National Early Literacy Panel early literacy report. . Washington DC: National Literacy Institute. Seely Flint, A., Kitson, L., Lowe, K., & Shaw, K. (2014). Literacy in Australia: Pedagogies for engagement. Milton: John Wiley and Sons Australia. Tagoilelagi-Leota, F., McNaughton, S., MacDonald, S., & Farry, S. (2005). Development of bilingualism and literacy during the transition to school. International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism , 8 (5), 455-479.