Latest news with #NationalLiteracyTrust
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Call for volunteers to boost literacy levels in schools
A reading charity based in Nottingham has set a target to place a volunteer in every primary school - as the city and county remain below average in literacy Volunteers, founded in 1996, supports children aged four to 11 with one-to-one reading time during school Jaggard, from the charity, said research showed that children who read for pleasure "will do better" at school, and that this leads to better employment statistics show the percentage of pupils below expected reading, spelling, grammar and punctuation standards in Nottinghamshire and Nottingham has been worse than the England average since at least 2015. Ms Jaggard said five years after the pandemic, which proved "incredibly challenging", the charity now has volunteers in about 90 schools."I think our big focus now is building ourselves back up to what we were pre-Covid and then expanding beyond that."She described literacy across the UK and locally as being in "a bit of a crisis" because of a decline in follows a recent report by the National Literacy Trust, which showed that fewer than one in five children read daily outside of school - the lowest level in two decades."Individual schools are doing an amazing job, they're committed and passionate, but having the time to spend one-to-one with children [to read] is just impossible," she said."Our volunteers go the extra mile, they spend half an hour with the child, they read together, they have a box of resources, and they spend loads of time really getting to know the children." Kate Marusiak, from South Wilford Endowed CofE Primary School, said the scheme was working well for its pupils, and it would be "really fantastic" to extend it to every school."Once you get the right book into children's hands, then actually you can turn around a reluctant reader."I think the relationship that [their school's volunteer] has created with the children is really special. They feel really safe, they feel really happy to get things wrong."It's just a joy to see them giggling or hear them chatting and really see that love of reading develop." 'More volunteers' Ms Jaggard said their target to reach every school in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire would not happen quickly, but that it was "realistic".There are a total of 362 primary schools across both local authority areas, which means the charity is almost 25% towards its goal."We've recently built Bassetlaw back up from losing pretty much every volunteer during Covid, so we're now back in ten schools which is fantastic."It's taking that kind of measuring approach, focussing on the areas that need us most first."She added that to achieve the goal, it required "more volunteers", and to this end the charity had appointed its first ever patron - author and campaigner Jacob Dunne, 33, was jailed in 2011 for manslaughter after he threw a single punch at James Hodgkinson, who died. He was then given help to turn his life around by Mr Hodgkinson's mother, Joan Scourfield, after a restorative justice meeting and has since campaigned against violence alongside Dunne said he struggled at school only read his first book at age of 20, but wants his own two children to have a better added: "We need as many people as possible with some time on their hands that want to have an impact on young children's lives."If you're one of them, then you should reach out and get involved."
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Free school uniform event at shopping centre
Parents and pupils will be able to get free school essentials and clothing to help families save money in time for the new school year. Queensgate Shopping Centre in Peterborough will hold the Free School Uniform Event on 1 August. it will include primary and secondary school clothes which can be exchanged on the day near the centre's Superdry store. "Hopefully this can be an event that helps cut down on their costs in time for September, while also benefitting the environment at the same time," said Katy Cole, Labour and cabinet member for children's services at Peterborough City Council. She added: "Working in education and being a parent myself I am well aware of the cost of uniforms and how quickly youngsters grow out of them." The council said the event would include recycling games, upcycling and crafts between 11:00 BST and 16:00. It was organised by the city council's recycling education team and Peterborough Youth Council, with support from Peterborough Family Hubs. Danielle Daboh, the city's Youth MP, said: "The event is championing reusing school uniform and also helping to alleviate the stress for families during the back-to-school period. "It's also about signposting the environmental effects and economic benefits of events such as these, and hopefully we can do more in the future." The National Literacy Trust is set to attend the event alongside the Goal2Grow initiative, where fans can exchange pre-loved football shirts. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More on this story Mums 'fuming' over 'unrealistic' uniform costs Council to consider bid to save lollipop patrols School head wants to buck low literacy trend Related internet links Peterborough City Council
BBC News
21-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Free school uniform event at Peterborough shopping centre
Parents and pupils will be able to get free school essentials and clothing to help families save money in time for the new school Shopping Centre in Peterborough will hold the Free School Uniform Event on 1 August. it will include primary and secondary school clothes which can be exchanged on the day near the centre's Superdry store. "Hopefully this can be an event that helps cut down on their costs in time for September, while also benefitting the environment at the same time," said Katy Cole, Labour and cabinet member for children's services at Peterborough City Council. She added: "Working in education and being a parent myself I am well aware of the cost of uniforms and how quickly youngsters grow out of them."The council said the event would include recycling games, upcycling and crafts between 11:00 BST and 16:00. It was organised by the city council's recycling education team and Peterborough Youth Council, with support from Peterborough Family Daboh, the city's Youth MP, said: "The event is championing reusing school uniform and also helping to alleviate the stress for families during the back-to-school period."It's also about signposting the environmental effects and economic benefits of events such as these, and hopefully we can do more in the future."The National Literacy Trust is set to attend the event alongside the Goal2Grow initiative, where fans can exchange pre-loved football shirts. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Independent
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Camilla made honorary freeman and liveryman of Worshipful Company of Stationers
The Queen was recognised for her work promoting literacy by being made an honorary member of a prestigious livery company. Camilla was installed as an honorary freeman and liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers during a ceremony in the City of London. She followed in the footsteps of leading figures like writer and poet Rudyard Kipling and Scottish novelist J M Barrie, who created the character of Peter Pan. The Queen is patron of a number of literacy charities including the National Literacy Trust, BookTrust, Beanstalk and First Story, regularly attends the Booker Prize to present the award and launched her Reading Room book club to great acclaim. During the ceremony at Stationers' Hall she was dressed in robes by two supporters and swore an oath before signing documents to mark the occasion. The Guild of Stationers was formed in 1403 – a collection of booksellers, who copied and sold manuscript books and writing materials, and limners, who decorated and illustrated them. By the early 16th century, printers had joined their ranks. In 1557 the guild received its royal charter and became a livery company and today it also represents the communications and content industries. The Queen met representatives from the Stationers' charities and military affiliations, including Bound by Veterans which supports injured or sick veterans by teaching them bookbinding. The Stationers' Foundation also supports education and welfare and manages the Shine School Media Awards for secondary schools which produce pupil-led publications. Camilla was given a special send off with guests waving white handkerchiefs and giving her three cheers as she was driven away, a gesture traditionally performed when Queen Elizabeth II left Balmoral.
The Independent
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Education secretary reveals the books that spurred her to read
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has announced that 2026 will be the National Year of Reading in the UK. The initiative aims to foster a love of books among children, addressing a decline in reading for pleasure, with only one in three children currently enjoying reading. Ms Phillipson shared her personal journey, crediting detective fiction like Sherlock Holmes and Hercules Poirot for her early love of reading, and now rediscovering this joy with her own children. She stressed the significant benefits of reading, including improved academic performance, broader vocabularies, better mental health, and enhanced empathy. The National Year of Reading will involve collaboration with the National Literacy Trust to support schools, libraries, and community groups in integrating more reading into daily life, despite the challenges posed by electronic distractions.
