We know from the feedback in PEP meetings how much all our primary children enjoy getting their monthly book parcels. We have also enjoyed reading the wonderful book reviews our Year 5 reading group have shared with us. It is great to hear how much they enjoyed the story they shared together.
Over the summer when children are not in school The Virtual School want to encourage them to continue to read - a sponsored summer reading challenge in collaboration with the library service is a great way to get all our youngsters to engage!
As all our primary children in care love receiving the book parcels, we thought it would be fantastic to be able offer the same opportunities to children in other parts of the world.
World Book Aid is a charity who believe that books have the power to change lives.
Their mission is to provide books, resources and training to support an environment in which reading for pleasure, study and lifelong learning can flourish.
Their vision is a world where everyone has access to books that will enrich, improve and change their lives.
This is about one such project:
Enriching primary schools-Our Inspiring Readers programme creates school libraries in African primary schools and trains teachers on how to use those books in the classroom. Since launching in 2016, the programme has reached over 182,000 children in 175 schools across four countries. Many of those schools are now reporting positive changes.
This summer we will be working alongside all Leicestershire Libraries to encourage all children in care to take part in their reading challenge and read 6 books over the long summer holidays.
Our idea is that for every book the children read, carers could sponsor them, for example £1 a book. After they have completed the Summer Reading Challenge, carers can donate the money via a Just Giving page set up by the Virtual School.
If just 1/3 of our children took part and raised £6 each, we would raise approx. £900.
This is a great opportunity to encourage our children to not only read 6 books over the summer but also to feel proud to be helping others to share the enjoyment of books and stories.
We’re are excited to reveal the theme for the Summer Reading Challenge 2021!
We’re teaming up with WWF for a very special nature-themed challenge that will inspire you to stand up for the planet!
https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/
Who is it for?
For children aged 4-12 years
Under 4’s can receive stickers and also Bookstart packs
When does it start?
It starts on Saturday 3rd July – Sat 4th September
How do children get involved?
Children will need to have their own library card to take part in the Summer Reading Challenge.
If your children are not members of a library, you can either apply for a card here:
https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/leisure-and-community/libraries/join-the-library
or they can visit their local library and sign up for a library card.
Children can pre- register for the Summer Reading Challenge online from Sat 19th June – Weds 30th June with a limited number of libraries by following the link;
www.leicestershire.gov.uk/libraries
If your children are unable to join a library but would still like to take part they can just identify and read six books and still be sponsored to do that.
A sponsor card will be email to all children in the July book parcels.
What happens next?
The children visit the library and collect their first incentives from Sat 3rd July
Over the summer help them to complete the challenge by reading, listening to or sharing 6 library books or eBooks over the summer
If you make 2 visits to the library over the summer the children can collect incentives and a medal along the way.
We hope as many children will take part as possible and that not only will they enjoy reading a variety of books but they will also have a sense of achievement in raising money for others.
In July the link to the Just Giving Page will be sent to all carers which will link to the World Book Aid website so all funds will go directly to them. Please do encourage your children to take part and help make this project a success.
Good luck and happy reading!