Listening to Primary School Children Read

Each week a group of Sixth Form students from St Mary's Calne visit local primary schools and listen to children individually learning to read.

Aims

The partnership aims to encourage the primary school students develop their reading skills. The children will hopefully grow in confidence with additional 1:1 attention and support on a regular basis.

It is beneficial for the Sixth Formers volunteer and give their time willingly to support others in the community.

Girls need to be available at a suitable time in the week to be able to visit the primary school in order to listen to the pupils read.

Background

St Mary's Head of Community Outreach met with the Headmaster from Priestley Primary School to explore ways in which the two schools could work together collaboratively for mutual benefit. 

One of the possibilities that was explored was to arrange for Sixth Formers to listen to children who are learning to read. As the Sixth Formers were so positive about the experience, St Mary's Head of Community Outreach approached Fynamore Primary School to explore the opportunity for girls to give service there as well.

Resources

The Sixth Formers walk to the local primary schools and give an hour of their time each week. This programme commenced in Autumn 2019 and continues indefinitely. 

 

Impact

Staff in the schools report that their students are growing in confidence and reading levels are increasing. Both parties enjoy the experience.

Pupil Involvement

The primary school children are in Key Stage 1 or 2 and the volunteers are in the Sixth Form.

Frequency

This volunteers spend one hour per week at the Primary School listening to the children read. The project started in  Autumn 2019 and will continue indefinitely. 

The Head of Community Outreach plans to invite other primary schools to join the programme from Autumn 2020.