An innovative new literacy strategy is being rolled out to schools across Cardiff to help improve standards in reading and writing.
Cardiff Council and schools in the city are working hard to tackle the issue of poor literacy and have developed a campaign to help parents and carers understand the importance of good reading and writing skills that provide children with the essential building blocks for a successful future.
A new Reading Power website has been set up providing parents with information on how they can help their children, containing tips and advice as well as recommending books and links to other websites that promote reading as an enjoyable past time as well as an essential skill.
The new campaign which will be featuring on local radio stations from next week is fronted by the Power Readers, a team of reading superheroes who are encouraging parents to give their children the power to read because ‘Knowledge is Power’. Posters introducing the Power Readers and their message will be seen at bus stops and in phone boxes across the city.
The new campaign will be officially launched by Executive Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, Cllr Freda Salway, at Kitchener Primary School in Riverside on Thursday November 11 at 9.15am. Cllr Salway will be joined by local children’s author Jon Blake, who will read to children at the school.
Former Kitchener pupil Nafeesa Saharded, who now attends Fitzalan High School, will also be present at the launch. Nafeesa developed the slogan ‘The brain needs feeding so keep on reading’ which forms part of the campaign.
Executive Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, Cllr Freda Salway, said: “Reading and writing are essential skills for success in a child’s education and later in life, for employment. Poor literacy is linked to unemployment, anti-social behaviour and other problems in later life so here in Cardiff we are determined to ensure our children have the best possible start in life by providing them with these basic skills.
“As a council we recognise the importance of good literacy but we have to get parents and families on board as well so they are able to encourage their children to read, make time to read together, visit their local library and generally promote reading as fun thing to do.
“The new campaign is very striking and I hope our Power Readers can inspire children to pick up a book and improve their skills.”
