The Summer Reading Challenge supports children's literacy
The National Summer Reading Challenge has been running for 25 years. It was developed for primary aged children to encourage a habit of reading for pleasure and mitigate against the literacy "dip", noticed by teachers when children return to school in September.
This year the theme is Marvelous Makers! Children can join the challenge from 6th July in libraries. They will be given a free pack and receive stickers when they have read a book. Certificates and medals are given to those children who complete the challenge.
This year we are working with artists, illustrators, and professional creators to provide a quality program of free activities. Mini book making, comic strip station, building tiny communities, 3d printing are just a handful of the activities taking place across the county.
Libraries share common values with schools. We are for every child. We want to support children on their reading journey. We are free and accessible to all. We believe literacy is the key to increasing children's life opportunities. The Summer Reading Challenge is our largest program of activity, and we invest in it because we know it makes a difference.
"I never read lots of books...now I do" - Pupil
"There weren't as many "non fluent" readers when we came back from the holidays" - Teacher
13% of primary school children joined the challenge in Norfolk last year. We need your help to promote it with your pupils and their families so that we can engage even more and get more children reading more books over the summer. There is a school pack available to support this. Your local library can offer you a Summer Reading Challenge assembly. We have some resources to aid promotion.
We are also working with 50 schools across the county on a pilot looking at how libraries and schools can work more effectively together. This is the third year of the pilot and we have seen a significant increase in the number of children taking part in the pilot schools. Rollesby Primary School in Great Yarmouth signed up 46% of their children to the challenge. Schools that communicate to parents that the school will be holding a celebration event/assembly in September for all the children who complete the challenge makes a significant difference to engagement.