Cardiff school pupils thanked local businesses for all their support and encouragement in helping them to read more at an event held at City Hall today.
Cardiff Council’s Reading Power campaign was launched in 2010, an innovative new literacy strategy to help improve standards in reading and writing across schools in the city. It aims to tackle the issue of poor literacy and has been developed to help parents and carers understand the importance of good reading and writing skills to help children succeed in the future.
As part of the initiative, more than 160 volunteers from local businesses and organisations have given time and support to 14 schools in the city. The volunteers from companies including Price Waterhouse Cooper, Admiral, Legal & General, Media Wales and Eversheds spend an hour a week in a school reading with two or three pupils during that time.
Organisations including Albany Church, Cardiff Rotary Club and Llanishen Rotary Club also have volunteers offering support in schools. Pupils in primary and secondary schools including Mt Stuart Primary, Fitzalan, Glyn Derw, Cantonian, Glan yr Afon and Albany Road Primary School have already greatly benefitted from the visits.
Since its launch, Reading Power has been making good progress and schools involved in the campaign are showing signs of improvement. The feedback from volunteers based in secondary schools is that they have noticed clear progress in the students they read with, especially in terms of reading fluency and comprehension, concentration, confidence and enthusiasm.
The Council recognises that literacy plays a fundamental role in people’s lives and the importance of raising standards so that everyone can fulfill their potential. Poor literacy has a dramatic effect on both an individual’s life and wider society and has been linked with an increased tendency for crime, poor educational attainment, health issues and also causes problems for business and the wider economy from skills shortages.
Cardiff Council’s Chief Executive Jon House said: “Reading and writing are the basic building blocks of education. Teachers in schools across the city are working incredibly hard to ensure children have these key skills. Since the launch of our literacy strategy, there has been a marked increase in the number of functionally literate children leaving primary education and going on to high school.
“The support and commitment from Headteachers, local businesses and organisations working closely in partnership has had an extremely positive impact on students taking part. The excellent work the teachers and volunteers do is key to the good progress we are making and hope to continue.”
For more information on the Reading Power campaign, visit www.cardiff.gov.uk/readingpower which provides information on how parents can help their children.
