School-readers’ volunteers gathered last Tuesday to enjoy coffee and homemade cake at Barton Manor as part of a thank you for their efforts. The community of readers enjoyed the opportunity to share experiences and celebrate the growth of the charity on the Isle of Wight.
Over 60 Islanders signed up to support reading in the Island’s primary schools following a recruitment drive in 2023. A new community of people committed to driving up literacy standards has emerged as a result.
More than half of the Island’s primary schools are now registered for the School-readers scheme, with some schools benefitting from up to six volunteers listening to children reading weekly. Every week, over 510 pupils benefit from the dedicated one-to-one time of an adult who supports their reading and comprehension.
Chubb: The most vulnerable children have been heard
Robin Chubb, Deputy Head of Queensgate Foundation Primary School commented,
“With the support of School-readers we have managed to ensure that the most vulnerable children have been heard reading, given positive interactions and received nothing but praise on a weekly basis.
“As a school we have seen a positive impact as children have become more fluent in their reading, more confident in themselves as young children and actively want to read to the volunteers.”
Tasker: It’s wonderful to see their enthusiasm and progress
Volunteer, Nicky Tasker, explained,
“I visit Shalfleet Primary School one morning a week and listen to Year 1s reading.
“Both the children and I enjoy the time we spend together, reading and discussing their books.
“It’s wonderful to see their enthusiasm and progress.”
Get in touch
If you would like to volunteer to be a School-reader or sign up as a recipient primary school, please visit www.schoolreaders.org or email the Isle of Wight Ambassador, Dawn Haig-Thomas on [email protected] .
We are currently looking for volunteers for Summerfields Primary in Newport and Wootton Community Primary School in particular.
News shared by Dawn, in her own words. Ed
