A reading project aims to help children become lifelong readers.

The Oxfordshire Raise a Reader Programme, launched by Oxford University Press and the National Literacy Trust, is a three-year mission in the wake of the pandemic to champion reading across schools.

It will work with 10 schools in its first year with the goal of raising a generation of readers in the county's most disadvantaged and under-served communities.

The campaign will work with booksellers, local communities, parents, librarians, literacy partners and reading experts.

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Schools will receive a donation of 500 books each - 300 donated by OUP and 200 donated by independent publishers - as well as a range of soft furnishings and books storage, in order to create their own dedicated reading spaces.

They will also have access to in-person specialist training to help develop whole-school reading strategies as well as receiving a subscription to Oxford Reading Buddy, a digital reading service of nearly 500 books, and the opportunity to host exciting author visits.

As part of the launch, Oxford University Press has shared new research that reveals over a quarter of children wish their parents read with them more often.

And 84 per cent of parents and carers also say that they enjoy reading with their children.

Regular, shorter reading sessions can have a positive impact and most teachers’ preference was for parents to read with their children for at least 5-10 minutes per day four or five days a week.

Helen Freeman, Raise a Reader project director, said: "We’re proud to be working with the NLT to provide dedicated reading spaces across schools in Oxfordshire’s most disadvantaged and under-served communities.

"Other exciting plans include taking our brilliantly kitted-out Raise a Reader campervan to communities across England, giving out free books, sharing resources, arranging author events and having OUP reading experts on hand to help give tips on how to raise a reader for life.

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"As our previous research shows creating a love of reading at home, an activity that can be enjoyed by parents and children alike, will be a fundamental and powerful tool to help close the learning gap opened up by the pandemic."

OUP will be taking Raise a Reader on tour in November, visiting 10 locations across England with lower levels of literacy.

Oxford authors and illustrators will join at each stop, including Winnie & Wilbur illustrator Korky Paul, husband-and-wife creators of The Perfect Fit, Naomi and James Jones, plus Paul Westmoreland, the author of OUP’s major young fiction autumn launch Rudy and the Wolf Cub.

 

 

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