Building whole-school reading communities - National Literacy Trust

9
Area of focus Developing Establishing Enhancing
Family involvement
Support All parents/carers are made
aware of the importance of
encouraging their children
to read and how the school
can support them through
materials eg booklists and
top reading tips.
Family events
and activities
Adult
basic skills
provision
Community involvement
Working in
partnership
with other
schools
Public library /
School Library
Service
(where
appropriate)
Involving
organisations
and adults
from the
community
Reading for pleasure is
promoted during school
events and activities to
which family members/
carers are invited.
Information is signposted
for parents/carers to improve
their literacy skills where
appropriate.
School liaises with other
schools in the area to
develop and share reading
for pleasure ideas.
School encourages pupils
to use the public library,
and displays information
leaflets from library. School
subscribes to SLS (where
it exists).
Community members/
organisations regularly
support reading in school
– for example, through a
volunteer reading scheme.
Communication methods
are adapted to suit target
group of parents/carers. Some
parents/carers themselves are
used as advocates.
Family reading events/
activities are run during the
year and some parents/carers
are involved in the planning.
Links are in place with family
learning services to help
identify parents and wider
family members who struggle
with literacy skills.
School holds reading events
with other schools.
Class visits to library and
visits from the children’s
librarian/SLS take place.
School liaises with local
library on Summer
Reading Challenge.
School works with
community organisations on
project(s) to promote reading
among pupils.
Parents/carers are offered
regular support sessions on
choosing reading materials
and reading with children
in KS1 and KS2. Regular
feedback from parents/carers
and children is used to inform
planning.
Family reading events/
activities are run for target
groups – for example,
dads, grandparents or
EAL families.
The services of a family
learning coordinator are
available in school to help
parents/carers and wider family
members improve their own
literacy skills.
School develops reading for
pleasure strategies and shares
good practice with a group of
schools in the area as part of
an authority-wide focus.
Joint projects and events are
held by school and public
library and/or SLS. Pupils are
part of focus groups.
Community organisations,
including possible business
partnerships, are involved
through coordinating reading
activity in joint projects with
schools.