Miss, can I have a bedtime story?
Pyjama teachers read to pupils via iPads... because some parents are ‘too busy’
READING bedtime stories to help children get off to sleep – and boost their literacy – is traditionally the parents’ job.
But teachers at one primary have taken on the role in a groundbreaking live streaming service because mothers and fathers claim to be too busy.
Every other Thursday at 7pm, a teacher dressed in pyjamas spends 15 minutes reading a bedtime favourite to children who are snuggled up in bed as they watch on a tablet or smartphone.
Latton Green Primary Academy in Harlow, Essex, admits it would be better if parents took the time to do the job themselves. But it decided to act after discovering only 24 per cent of pupils enjoyed bedtime stories, compared to 63 per cent who watched TV or played games on devices such as iPads just before sleeping.
Studies have shown that good literacy early on is a crucial springboard for academic achievement and personal development.
Children are encouraged to be in bed by 7pm to watch the start of the stream on Facebook Live.
The scheme began last month with teacher Laura Biagioni appearing in pyjamas and clutching a cup of cocoa to read Ouch In My Pouch, by Jeanne Willis.
It was watched by 72 per cent of the 236 pupils and has now been viewed more than 4,000 times.
Miss Biagioni said: ‘There is no replacement for a paper book. But if there is a night when the parents don’t have time to read, instead of watching TV or playing a computer game that is inappropriate, they have the opportunity to give the child that technology to watch something that will be beneficial for them.’
The teacher presenting the stories changes every fortnight. Mairead Cranney, who has also read to pupils, said: ‘Many children said that once the Facebook Live had ended their family sat down together and read another bedtime story. It was lovely that we were able to inspire that.’
Headmistress Sinead McCarthy said: ‘This is not a replacement for books. But we need to be aware that these are modern times and we need to engage with our children. We work very hard to ensure there is home school learning and we know family time is harder now, with things like shift work.’
The initiative by the school – which is rated ‘good’ by Ofsted – has been popular among parents. But education experts said book reading was about ‘intimacy and interaction for young children’ and unions warned against teachers adding to their workload.