For those of you that follow Zoe on LinkedIn, you'll know about a not so small project she's been working on for many months now.
Around nine months ago, Zoe threw herself into starting a project to increase the reading rates at her childrens' school. The stats driving this project are pretty shocking; around 187,000 five-year-olds in England – or 30 per cent – are falling behind their expected reading levels. Every year 200,000 children leave primary school at 11 unable to read and write at the expected level.
In classic Zoe style, she set a dream in to motion to build a school library in the grounds. Why? Because 1 in 12 children in the UK don't have a book at home. 1 in 8 disadvantaged pupils and as many as 1 in 5 pupils aged 5 to 8.
And so the planning and fundraising for the Reading Hub began. Providing children with books they can check in and out, a space the children can relax and engage with their parents before and after school, and a way to re-ignite passion for the written word in our younger generations.
Funding raised for the build (yay!), the project was put in to motion in December 2024. The cabin will give a big enough space to house half a class at a time. What’s more, the year 4 and 5 students will be responsible for the running of the library and will gain many skills, from using the library software, to cataloguing and understanding the barcoding system.
However, it’s not just a library. It will be a unique space on the grounds for small workshops, enrichment learning and will allow new reception class children into school from May until July for small settling sessions and start their book journey before joining the school in September.
Here's to filling the school with lots of Matilda Wormwoods!
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