A note from Tracy Rogers:
Schoolreaders is a wonderful charity that recruits volunteers to listen to children read in primary schools. I think your members might be very interested to learn about the charity and might even consider volunteering. This is an entirely free service to schools and volunteering does not preclude holidays during term time!
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National literacy charity Schoolreaders is looking for volunteers to provide one-to-one reading support to children in selected Shotley Peninsula primary schools to help pupils catch up with their reading, post-pandemic.
According to the latest government figures, 200,000 children currently leave primary school without reaching the required standard for reading.
Schoolreaders support has been proven to help children’s reading fluency, comprehension, and enjoyment, providing a crucial supplement to classroom teaching.
Schoolreaders volunteers are asked to listen to children read a minimum of once a week in term time (usually for up to 2 hours at a time) and to commit to a minimum of an academic year. The charity interviews its prospective volunteers and then matches them to an appropriate local partner school – usually one with the greatest need for reading support.
Jane Whitbread, founder of Schoolreaders, comments:
‘When I set up Schoolreaders eight years ago, I never anticipated the demand for our reading volunteers would increase so dramatically. Covid, and its associated disruption to education, has meant that we are needed more than ever. Children who leave primary school unable to read well cannot access their secondary schooling fully which is likely to have life-long disadvantages.'
‘Poor reading skills can also affect life chances and hinder such simple things as reading instructions, understanding a medicine label or accessing information over the internet which so many of us take for granted. Literacy opens doors, helps learning and brings new opportunities.'
‘Volunteering through us is so simple yet so enriching. Adults can give back to their local community, it provides a regular purpose and makes such a difference to children’s lives. 98% of our volunteers reported a positive impact on their wellbeing through volunteering with us.’
To find out more about becoming a Schoolreaders volunteer please visit www.schoolreaders.org or call 01234 924111.
Schoolreaders CIO (Charity Number: 1159157)