Dan is a Year 6 pupil who lives in Middlesbrough. Although
bright, he was underperforming at school and falling behind with his reading.
Dan’s mother works long hours in a supermarket, which meant that Dan often
stayed up late and as a result was tired during lessons.
Dan’s school took part in our Young Readers Programme giving him the chance to attend fun events based around reading and books.
Before starting the programme, he wasn’t an enthusiastic or confident reader,
but his teacher was pleasantly surprised by how captivated he was by the
first Young Readers Programme event.
At the event, children at Dan’s school were taught how to
choose books they might enjoy, and each pupil got to choose a book to take
home with them.
Dan chose to keep a book called Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek
Landy, which he loved. He even inspired the other children to read books by
this author too. Immediately after he started the Young Readers Programme,
Dan’s mother noticed a change in him. Instead of staying up late, she noted
that “he wants to go to bed earlier so he can finish his book.”
Dan’s literacy levels have also soared, from being two years below his expected level, to being at the top end for his age. He has now made a total of three years’ progress in reading. His headteacher describes the programme’s impact as “one of those magic moments – the effect was just amazing on the children who took part."