Stalwart Volunteers Celebrate a Fantastic 15 Years of Helping Children to Read
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Pictured above: Steve Mort – Head Teacher of Corpus Christi Catholic College, Freda Pollard -Reading Mentor, Gillian Batcup – Reading Mentor, Christine Elliott – Reading Mentor Manager at Reading Matters
Two of our longest-standing Reading Mentors celebrated over 15 years of service last week and were presented with cards, flowers and a certificate in appreciation of their outstanding dedication to improving outcomes for young people. Each of these amazing stalwart volunteers has worked with over ninety children, providing each one with a personalised termly intervention programme of one to one reading. Both ladies are currently Reading Mentors at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds where they have supported young people for a number of years.
The Head Teacher of the school, Steve Mort, said “The work of the Reading Mentors is important and invaluable, it helps reading across the whole of the curriculum.” Nicola Busby, Librarian at Corpus Christi Catholic College added, ” I see the results the Reading Mentors achieve, I see the children flourish well in their later school life, with all subjects not just reading.”
One to one targeted, personal support from a Reading Mentor enables struggling readers to catch up quickly. Typically, after a 10 week period of intervention (2 x 30 minute sessions per week), reading age will improve by 15 months, and in many cases by much more.
Reading Matters Mentors are available to work in schools in South and West Yorkshire, please contact us for more information. If you would like to find out more about becoming a reading volunteer and helping children to reach their potential then please follow this link.
Sovereign Support
We would like to thank Sovereign Health Care who have once again very generously donated £2000 to support our work here in the City of Bradford.
Join us for our ’20th Anniversary’ Charity Ball
In 2017 Reading Matters will be twenty years old and we plan to celebrate all we have achieved so far and raise money to help more children in the future, with a Charity Ball on the 11th of March at The Midland Hotel in Bradford. Tickets cost £40 and include a drinks reception, three-course meal and dancing. Tables can be booked for groups of 8-12 people. If you are able to support our fundraising by offering a prize for either the silent or live auctions then please get in touch. We hope that you will be able to join us for this wonderful occasion! Book here now.
Join the Bananagrams Challenge
It’s back! The Bananagrams Challenge provides KS2 pupils with an enjoyable, interactive way to develop language skills through word-play. The Challenge is open to pupils in years 3, 4, 5 and 6 and is free to enter for any UK School. Last year, over 750 schools took part and the feedback from teachers has been great.
All participating schools will receive a free Welcome Pack worth over £30 (which includes two free Bananagrams games). And, if you find this year’s ‘Top Banana’, your school could be £1000 better off!
For more information and to register your school to take part go to: www.bananagramschallenge.co.uk
First Story Open Their National Writing Competition
Calling all state secondary schools: First Story wants your words. Their National Writing Competition 2016 is now open. This year’s theme is ’Footprints’, and students have 850 words to let their imaginations soar. Teachers can enter too. Schools are asked to send First Story your top three entries by 23rd November 2016.
The prize for each key stage winner is a place on an Arvon creative writing residential course with three of their friends and a teacher. Those shortlisted will see their work professionally published in a collected anthology. See more and enter at www.firststory.org.uk/footprints
Happy Reading!
From the team at Reading Matters
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