Reading Cloud is delighted to have joined forces with LoveReading4Kids, one of the UK's biggest book recommendation brands and online bookstore with a social purpose to change lives through reading, to launch ‘Unlocking the Potential of your School Library’. An initiative which sets out to support four schools across the next academic year to take their school library to the next level, improve learning, encourage reading for pleasure and further foster a whole school reading culture.
Today we welcome the four schools that are taking part; Christ Church C of E Primary in London, Ewhurst Infant School in Surrey, Hope Academy in Merseyside and Christ’s School in Richmond and challenge them to unlock the potential of their school library.
The schools will receive free access to the Reading Cloud library management system for the year as well as personalised training and guidance from inhouse experts at LoveReading4Kids and Reading Cloud to enhance their library and engage students in reading. The initiative also includes a free annual subscription to the School Library Association to deliver CPD and help with the management of their school libraries.
Simon Jarvis, Managing Director at Reading Cloud, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with LoveReading4Kids and the four schools involved in this pilot.
We all share a passionate belief in the transformative potential of school libraries to develop a whole school reading culture which is so crucial to overall academic attainment and longer-term life outcomes – we also understand how deploying the right technology can be key to actively engaging young readers and helping schools realise this potential.
I'm really looking forward to seeing first-hand the impact this joint initiative will have on the students and staff alike.”
We all share a passionate belief in the transformative potential of school libraries to develop a whole school reading culture which is so crucial to overall academic attainment and longer-term life outcomes
We will be following the schools on their journey alongside LoveReading4Kids and sharing their insights and best practice along the way to inspire and support other schools to unlock the potential of their library.
Deborah Maclaren from LoveReading4Kids commented: “Every child deserves to benefit from a great school library. They are the heartbeat of a school, and yet 14% of schools don't have one.
Every child deserves to benefit from a great school library. They are the heartbeat of a school, and yet 14% of schools don't have one.
The schools selected for this project have reading for pleasure at the heart of their school but want to do more to encourage their children to utilise their libraries. In fact three of them had no library space at all at the beginning of this initiative.
Supported by the teams at LoveReading4Kids, Reading Cloud and the School Library Association, they will be learning about best practice library management from experts in their field, and we will support them to ensure that they are no longer part of that 14%, and that all of their children get to experience the joy of a school library.
I am very proud of this initiative and am excited about the changes we can help make happen.”