The National Literacy Trust Hub in Peterborough is known locally as Peterborough Reads. Funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, a range of partners work together to promote reading and writing, and improve literacy levels in the city.
The campaign focuses on ensuring children are ready to start school and improving the transition between primary and secondary school to improve pupils’ literacy.
We are delighted to be part of a year of reading celebrations in Peterborough, alongside our partners Peterborough City Council, Vivacity and City College Peterborough. The campaign is part of the Vision for Reading and asks everyone in the city - teachers, parents, businesses and community groups - to play their part in helping children to develop a lifelong love of reading which in turn will improve their life chances.
The year runs from summer 2019 to summer 2020, with each month having a theme that participants are encouraged to plan activities around.
We are looking for people across Peterborough to become Literacy Champions in their communities.
What is a Literacy Champion?
Literacy Champions have a passion to improve literacy in their community. They could be a parent, business professional, teacher, student, sports coach or anybody who is committed to making a different in their local area.
Why does Peterborough need Literacy Champions?
Last year, just 63% of pupils in the city reached the expected level in reading at the end of primary school, compared to 72% nationally.
Not being able to read, write or communicate well holds people back at every stage of their life. As a child they won’t be able to succeed at school, as a young adult they will be locked out of the job market, and on becoming a parent they won’t be able to support their child’s learning.
We need Literacy Champions to reach those in Peterborough who need our help the most.
What will being a Literacy Champion involve?
You know your local community and the issues facing it better than anyone. As a Literacy Champion, you will be supported to run literacy projects in the way you think will work best.
You will have access to training, support and information from our Literacy Champions Project Officer, helping you to reach those in your community who need help most.
How do I become a Literacy Champion?
For more information contact Literacy Champions Officer Claire Parsons.
Peterborough Celebrates Reading and Wild in Art are bringing the iconic BookBench trail to the city next summer – and we would like schools across the city to get involved by designing a BookBench of their own.
Want to receive updates on the project?
Order a BookBench for your school here or download a schools pack to find out more.
Tips and activities to help you support your child’s literacy skills at all ages.
Visit Words for Life.
Contact us to find out how your school or setting can get involved.
Email Sally Atkinson.
Use your business’ resources, reach and local knowledge to make a real impact.
Pledge your support.
Boosting school readiness
A pilot project in partnership with Peterborough’s Barnardo’s children’s centres and a primary school to develop school readiness in early years children has resulted in 50% children making significant progress and 100% of parents maintaining their engagement with the school.
Working with Vivacity
We partner with Peterborough’s library and cultural trust, Vivacity to strengthen their community and learning programmes’ links to the English curriculum. Through aligning their events and resources to the specific needs of literacy coordinators and teachers, we have successfully enhanced the local museums’ literacy offer to schools.
Improving reading attitudes
Partnerships with local events, author visits, a programme to support primary school pupils’ transition into secondary school, a ‘pop-up literacy shop’ and competitions and campaigns to drive awareness of the importance of literacy skills has helped the number of KS2 pupils who enjoy reading in Peterborough increase by 23.4% between 2014 and 2015, rising from 59.8% in 2014 to 73.8% in 2015.
