Volunteers needed to help support children with reading in Preston

Children's literacy charity School readers is looking for volunteers who can help spread the joy of reading to children in primary schools in Preston.

Every year, 1 in 4 children leave primary school unable to read to the expected standard and so Schoolreaders recruits volunteers to listen to children read in primary schools, focusing on schools where children require the most support.

Volunteers are asked to listen to children read once a week in term time and to commit to an academic year. 95% of children supported by a Schoolreaders volunteer improve their reading age and our partner schools also reported that volunteers had a positive impact on pupils with 95% improving their reading confidence and 87% their reading enjoyment.

Additionally, children benefit enormously from the volunteers as positive role models in the classroom.

Sheena, a retired, and a Schoolreaders volunteer, explains her experience:

"For me, establishing a rapport with each child and recognising their uniqueness by making the sessions relevant and fun is what counts and the earlier we can do this the better. Reading skills and developing a love of books from the earliest age will hopefully aid children to become confident, interested and engaged readers who read for pleasure.

I thoroughly enjoy my time listening to readers and look forward to returning to school after half term."

Do you have a spare hour each week?

So, do you have an hour or two to spare each week during the school day?

Would you like to help support primary aged children who struggling with their reading or their comprehension? No specific skills are required but we do need our volunteers to be over 18 and have good written and spoken English. They will also need to have a DBS check carried out, which will be done by the school they are matched with and at no cost to the volunteer.

For mor information about becoming an incredible volunteer, please visit the Schoolreader website or contact Michelle Bailey, Northern School and Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator at m.bailey@schoolreaders.org.