Thread by @docrussjackson

#THREAD

#LifeChangingLibraries’ is Children's Laureate @CressidaCowell’s flagship project. All the research shows that encouraging #readingforpleasure from an early age is one of THE most important ways parents & teachers can help improve social mobility.
booktrust.org.uk/lifechangingli…

Over the course of a year, six primary schools across England are being helped to develop a #readingforpleasure culture, with the support of the @Booktrust & @CressidaCowell.

#LifeChangingLibraries

Cressida Cowell has called on the UK government to fund primary school libraries so that all children across the country don’t miss out on the opportunity to read for pleasure & all the vital benefits this chance brings.

#LifeChangingLibraries

Cressida launched the campaign with a call on PM Boris Johnson to help reverse the spiralling inequality in education by putting primary school libraries at the heart of our long-term response to the pandemic with a ring fenced, yearly investment of £100m. booktrust.org.uk/news-and-featu…

The #LifeChangingLibraries’ report describes a transformation in attitudes towards reading: an enthusiasm & passion for books ignited amongst students at the 6 pilot schools & a huge uptake in the time spent engaged in #readingforpleasure at school & home.
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“This report shares the powerful stories of the #LifeChangingLibrary’ schools, adding to the raft of evidence about the crucial role reading for pleasure & school libraries play in a child’s life chances. A great library positively affects an entire school ecosystem" - Cressida.

"The pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on children’s mental health & these libraries have provided a special space for students to find ‘shelter’, to relax, to regulate & to share their new-found love of books & reading."

#LifeChangingLibraries

"This research has come at crucial time when schools are not only trying to close the learning gap created by the pandemic, but are also being affected by rising costs...

...every child deserves the educational, economic, health and mental health benefits a school library and reading for pleasure bring to their lives, and the chronic problem of #inequality - left unsolved for too many years - is now a crisis. We must take action now."

Sadly, in Britain millions of children - particularly those from the poorest communities - are missing out on the opportunity to #readforpleasure, & all the vital benefits this chance brings.

The project is inspired by Cressida’s twenty-year experience visiting UK schools.

Across the UK, 1 in 8 primary schools has no library space at all.

As part of the campaign, the six schools have received a specially curated booklist of 1,000 titles chosen by @BookTrust’s expert team & Cressida, with guidance from the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education.

This is the list of the 1,000 best books to stock in a primary school library, broken down into Key Stages.

These titles have been chosen to entertain, inform & inspire children into a life-long journey of #readingforpleasure.

#LifeChangingLibraries

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https://twitter.com/whatSFSaid/status/1536415918192054273?s=20&t=XJzZF7uUv5lZ-wK8Kl2lTw