About the project

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In July 2005 CLPE launched a reading project to enhance children’s pleasure in reading, and to raise children’s achievement through teachers’ knowledge of literature and its use in the classroom. The first cohort of schools was drawn from across London and outer London.

In 2005-2006 the project has worked with 50 teachers and 2000 children in 30 schools from 12 LAs. During 2006-2007 the project worked with 70 teachers from 50 schools in a central project. There have been additional projects in Wandsworth, Cumbria and Redbridge LAs.

The response to the project has been one of enormous enthusiasm, from both teachers and children. During the year teachers have attended conferences and inset days at CLPE to share experiences and to develop further teaching strategies to promote the use of literature in the classroom. Teachers have used specially developed web-based materials to develop their teaching approaches. It is clear from the discussions and work produced that speaking and listening and writing, as well as reading, have benefited from the teachers’ and children’s involvement in the project. 

In a speech in 2004, Chief Inspector David Bell remarked that,

‘...As an avid reader myself, I find it greatly disappointing that so many children can read, but often choose not to. Many children read at home, either on the computer or in magazines and information books. However, they seldom pursue their personal reading interests at school. We need to ask whether schools are doing enough to capture children's enthusiasm and to explore their own interests….We need to reflect upon the reading material available in schools and whether it entices children to want to read.’ (Ofsted/HMI)

His comments followed an Ofsted report and other recent studies which showed that while children’s attainment in reading in England was relatively high, pleasure and involvement in reading is low (PIRLS, 2001) and that one in five 7-14 children is unable to name a favourite book (TES 4 June 2004). The area of ‘inference and deduction in reading’, an aspect of the statutory Key Stage 2 reading test that many children fail to grasp, continues to be problematic. How can teachers ensure that children both enjoy reading and learn to ‘read for meaning’?

The Power of Reading Project is designed to raise children's interest in books and achievement in reading and draws on CLPE’s forthcoming Book Power publications. It also builds on CLPE’s highly successful work in school-based projects such as Boys on the Margin, The Reader in the Writer, Heritage Writing, RAW Power , Newham Read and Enjoy. The project is also underpinned by CLPE’s highly regarded book selections for schools, teachers and parents as found in the The Core Booklist, Choosing Texts for the NLS and Simply the Best Books for Children.

The project involves one or two teachers from each school.

The Power of Reading project aims to:

• raise teachers’ levels of knowledge, pleasure and confidence in children’s literature

• raise children’s pleasure and interest in books and reading

• to raise children's attainment in reading

• to broaden and deepen children’s experience of books and reading with a culturally
  rich and diverse range of books and reading material

• develop a more in-depth approach to the use of literature in the primary curriculum

• to disseminate best practice in the use of children’s literature for reading, writing and speaking and listening, using creative and innovative teaching approaches

The project offers:

• A box of 20 specially selected core texts (10 for each teacher and 10
  for each classroom involved in the project)
• Provision of high quality support materials on line and on CD, written by CLPE staff, including over 40 units of work based on texts, and much more
• Creative work around texts for use in the classroom
• Advice on key teaching approaches for promoting enjoyment of reading and literature in the classroom
• A launch conference with CLPE staff and author
• 4 half day inset sessions for teachers at CLPE or local centre
• In-school visit and staff inset from a CLPE staff member
• An end of project conference
• Support and advice for setting up teachers’ and children’s book groups in school
• CLPE’s highly regarded book lists and relevant publications

 This project is now being offered to individual schools and LEAs. For costs and dates of next project, please contact info@clpe.co.uk

To download an information leaflet click here
To download an application form click here
To ask for further information click here