Volunteers are needed for new reading projecy
HELP OUT CHILDREN WITH THEIR READING?
COULD YOU
VOLUNTEERS are urgently needed to help out with a reading project coming to Teesside schools in September.
The national children’s literacy charity Schoolreaders is expanding into the Teesside and Redcar areas and is hoping enthusiastic volunteers will come forward now so they can be ready for the classroom in September.
With shocking statistics showing a quarter of children leave primary school unable to read to the required standard, Schoolreader matches volunteers with schools to listen to and encourage the children with their reading.
Schoolreaders has hundreds of active volunteers in primary schools nationwide, but more are required, particularly to help those most disadvantaged following the disruption to their education caused by the Covid pandemic.
This is why the charity is heading to Teesside.
Schoolreaders volunteers are asked to listen to children read a minimum of once a week in term time and to commit to an academic year. By applying now, new volunteers will be matched as quickly as possible to a partner school and be ready to start next term once they have completed a mandatory DBS check and virtual safeguarding training.
Jane Whitbread, founder of Schoolreaders, said: “Reading, particularly for the youngest children, has been set back enormously by the pandemic and if we don’t rally round now, we risk thousands of children falling behind.
“Children who leave primary school unable to read well can’t access their secondary schooling fully which is likely to negatively affect their life chances. Poor reading skills hinders such simple things as reading instructions, understanding a medicine label or accessing information over the internet which so many of us take for granted.
“Additionally, children benefit enormously from positive role models in the classroom. There is just no substitute for reading aloud to a trusted adult, discussing words or a story and building a rapport.
“Being one of our volunteers is a very positive thing to do and a way individuals can do their bit to help children in their communities, providing a crucial supplement to classroom teaching. Literacy opens doors, helps learning and brings new opportunities.”
To find out more or to apply to be a Schoolreaders volunteer from September 2022 to help schools with the greatest need, visit Schoolreaders.org.