The LitUp Project
We developed the LitUp project in conjunction with Bloomsbury Publishing and local school literacy leads to boost reading for pleasure and raise literacy levels in Hastings. It embeds intensive reading support for children who either do not read at home or are reluctant readers, with school visits and workshops with some of Bloomsbury’s top children’s authors, and parent and carer reading sessions.
Intensive reading support
Since its inception in 2022, nearly 1,500 children have taken part in the project. Initially focusing on children in years 3 and 4, identified as those whose learning and development was most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, it followed the same cohort of children into years 4 and 5.
Over 12,000 free books and resources have been donated, with 15 hours of teacher training and involvement from seven Bloomsbury authors, including Katya Balen, Iszi Lawrence, Sheena Dempsey and Sam Sedgman, and teacher training from Scott Evans (author of 100 Ideas for Primary Teachers) and Andrew Jennings (author of the Vocabulary Ninja series).
Encouraging reading in the home
To extend reading beyond school hours and into the home, we created Teatime Tales, after-school sessions for families. Teachers received training to lead six weekly sessions focused on shared parent and child reading and to encourage discussions about books at home. Families were gifted books to start their home libraries and were connected to literacy events in the community, including those hosted by our library partners and our volunteer network of Literacy Champions.
Research shows impact of project
A report with the findings from the first two years of the LitUp project has shown that reading frequency significantly increased with over half (53.9%) of children progressing from rarely picking up a book in their free time to reading at least once a week. And the author visits made an impact: 4 in 5 (79.1%) children said the visits made them want to read more.
Two-thirds (65%) of children who lacked confidence in their reading abilities before LitUp, now describe themselves as ‘very good’ or ‘good’ readers.
Due to its success after the first two years, LitUp has been extended for a third year focusing on the same group of children who are now in years 5 and 6.
The LitUp project has been brilliant for Silverdale…The author visits in particular were so exciting for our pupils. They provided our children with the opportunity to meet authors, which would not have been possible without the project. Thanks to the books being gifted to our children they have had the opportunity to read the author’s book after the visit. This created a real buzz within the academy and gave the visits real purpose for our children.
Nicki Duckett, reading lead at Silverdale Primary Academy, St Leonards on Sea
Why now is the time to focus on reading for pleasure
Recent research from the National Literacy Trust revealed that children and young people’s reading for enjoyment has hit an all-time low; just 1 in 3 children say they enjoy reading in their spare time.
This matters, because when children and young people enjoy reading, they read more often, which develops their literacy skills and aptitude for learning, as well as boosting their confidence, empathy and wellbeing.
With children and young people’s enjoyment of reading at crisis point, and high numbers leaving primary and secondary school without the reading skills they need to thrive, the futures of a generation are being put at risk. This points to the importance of the LitUp project which is already making a difference to primary school children in Hastings. Initiatives like this are needed now more than ever before.
Contact
For more information about LitUp and our work in Hastings, get in touch.