Last year, in Bradford, 3049 children joined the Challenge.
You can make a huge difference by encouraging your pupils to take part.
Contact your local library today.
The Summer Reading Challenge:
- Significantly improves reading confidence and
independence
- Ensures pupils are ready for their return to school, preventing the summer reading ‘dip’
- Aids the successful transition between year groups and key stages
- Contributes to all pupils’ achievement
- Encourages extra-curricular activity – encouraging family engagement with reading
- Develops links between your school, the library and the wider community
For children who took part in 2023:
- 80% read more over the summer holidays
- 70% improved their reading skills
- 72% felt more confident about their reading
How it works:
- Children sign up through their local library and receive a collector’s poster.
- They set a reading goal and borrow books of their choice during the summer, collecting special stickers and incentives.
- Library staff and volunteers help children to discover new books that suit their interests and reading level and run a programme of free themed activities in the library.
- Children who complete the Challenge are presented with a certificate and a medal. We will let you know which children in your school complete the challenge so that you can arrange any special celebrations in the new term. Schools with the largest number
of pupils taking part may be awarded a Special Achievement Award!
- Children can take part online, too!
www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk
Also this year..
We are relaunching our Young Ambassador programme for 14-19 year olds who are interested in volunteering with Bradford Libraries. Please see the
poster regarding some informal information events being held next week at Shipley and City Libraries and share with your students, or contact
samantha.mcgee@bradford.gov.uk for more information.
Next steps:
- Here is a link to a school presentation which can be used in assemblies across Bradford to promote the challenge with your pupils aged 4 – 11 years -
https://we.tl/t-L5mrppwnB9 . If you don’t get chance to download this presentation in the next seven days, please
contact us to issue a new link.
- Display posters in your school. (Reading Challenge Poster /
Volunteer Poster)
- Visit the
Summer Reading Challenge School Zone for more information and free resources.
- Send a newsletter to parents and carers with information about the Challenge. You can use the handy template
here.
- Book a visit from your local library staff. We can tell your pupils more about the Challenge, and even present a special assembly.
- Check out Bradford Libraries Summer Reading Challenge brochure with hundreds of activities, events and workshops for your pupils to take part in across the summer in libraries
here.
And finally, why not encourage pupils to recommend a read with a bookmark activity
where your pupils get to share a recommendation with a friend ??
Combining FREE access to books at local libraries with creative activities to take part in during the summer holidays, the Summer Reading Challenge is the perfect way to support your pupils’ learning during the holidays, ensuring they return
ready for a great start to the new academic year.
If you would like any further information please get in touch:
Susan Brewster-Craig
Development Officer – Children, Bradford Libraries
susan.brewster-craig@bradford.gov.uk
Sam McGee
Development Officer - Young People, Bradford Libraries
samantha.mcgee@bradford.gov.uk
