MP Steve Barclay has again launched a summer campaign to raise enough money to buy a new reading book for every Year 4 child in North East Cambridgeshire.
He first launched the ‘Read to Succeed’ campaign in 2016 after teachers raised the difficulty of encouraging children to read through the summer holidays, causing literacy skills to “dip” after the school break.
The initiative is aimed at the Year 4 group who it is shown have begun to read more independently at that stage in life.
Mr Barclay said: “I launched the campaign three years ago after a number of teachers raised the issue that many children fail to make progress during the summer holiday, when they are out of school.
“Read to Succeed aims to help combat this. In the back of every book donated, we will place a library token, which each child can take to their local library and take part in the Reading Agency’s Summer Reading Challenge.”
Last year, local libraries recorded an 11 per cent increase in children participating in the summer reading challenge as a result of the scheme.
The campaign raised enough money to buy 2,500 books – one for every year 4 and year 5 child in the constituency.
Melanie Hart, local parent, said: “Both of my children have received free books from Steve’s Read to Succeed campaign, I think it is a great initiative.”
Mr Barclay added: “I hope that constituents will join the Bishop of Ely, local head teachers and above all students, to allow for some children their very first book to own and for others the excitement of having something new to read over the summer.
“1,347 books will allow us to give every child in Year 4 a new book and should we receive more, we will be able to roll it out to further year groups.”
This year Steve has partnered with the Norfolk Children’s Book Centre who are supplying books at a reduced rate.
Just £150 would be enough to purchase a new book for a whole class of children in Fenland.
Donations can be made payable to the Norfolk Children’s Book Centre via electronic transfer, cheque or telephone by Friday June 1.
For more information on how to donate, visit: www.stevebarclay.net/read-to-succeed-2018
Donations can be made payable to the Norfolk Children’s Book Centre via electronic transfer, cheque or telephone by Friday June 1.
For more information on how to donate, visit: www.stevebarclay.net/read-to-succeed-2018
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