This year sees East Bergholt year 2's become year 3's and we should start to see the effect that the Story Gift Scheme has had on them regarding their engagement with literacy.  The true pattern will become more visible next year when the now year 2's go up into year 3 because they will have had 2 years of having stories read to them and discussing those stories with the year 9's.  

I have trained up 6 reading ambassadors (great title for them I think) at Stowmarket high school and they are now going into Wood Ley primary and had an amazing first session.  The training really makes it much easier for the High school children to engage with the primary school kids and have that all important discussion about each story.  Keeping my eye one that one!

Tuesday next week I go in to train Bishop William Ward Primary school year 6's to go into years 1 and 2 in their own school and read stories to them and then have the all important  conversation with them about the story that they have just read.  This is a huge step up for the year 6's who will bit by bit become more engaged in the playground and generally with the years 1 and 2 thus creating a more cohesive school atmosphere (hopefully).  Looking forward to seeing how that goes)

And to top that off I just had a wonderful day at Tollsbury primary doing an Authors day visit and having fun with the children of every year throughout the day.  

​Loving this being an Author stuff.  It gives me a chance to hopefully make a positive change in each school that I go to?

Following the success of the pilot scheme which saw year 9's from East Bergholt High reading one a week to years 1 and 2 in East Bergholt primary school another two schools have engaged me to teach their pupils to read to years 1 and 2 and we are all keen to see this happen this year.
This year there is an amazing twist though because this year I shall be training year 6 in one primary to read to years 1 and 2 in their own school.  This being because there is not a senior school close enough to send their year 9's in.
This will be a special challenge and yet may prove to be possibly easier and with as many if not more benefits to both year groups.  Older children reading to younger children with a story tellers skill just shouts out the message to the younger group that by the time that they are grown ups (year 6! or year 9!) they all love reading stories.  
This is going to be an awesome year and with any luck the scheme will grow and grow because the benefits are truly visible to all children.