Back to school - we're ready for the challenge
Our volunteers are ready to get back into classrooms to give free one-to-one reading support sessions. Find out how you can play your part in helping children to catch up on lost education; together we can get children on the path to good literacy.
What we do
We believe that all children should leave primary school able to read well. Good literacy at this age is the cornerstone of success in secondary education and in later life. But as many as one in four children left primary school in 2018* unable to read well, and this figure will have been made worse by the COVID-19 crisis.
We recruit volunteers to listen to children read in primary schools. One-to-one reading support with an attentive adult helps children's reading fluency, comprehension and enjoyment. It is a crucial supplement to classroom teaching for many children.
Everyone benefits from the Schoolreaders scheme; the children, the schools and the volunteers themselves - a little of their time can translate into life-changing improvements to a child's reading ability.
Recognition for our Super-Volunteer Kathy Thompson!
We're delighted that Kathy has been recognised in the Third Sector Awards. These are the Oscars of the charity world, and Kathy was one of just 4 individuals shortlisted for Volunteer of the Year. One of our long-term reading volunteers, Kathy filmed herself reading stories during lockdown and helped us carry on bringing the joys of good stories to children even while their schools were closed.
Thanks to all who took part in our lockdown art competition. Click here for a list of winners and runners up and to see their fabulous works of art in our online exhibition.
A message for reading volunteers and partner schools
We are recruiting new volunteers; apply today and we will place you in a school that needs you as soon as we can.
If you are already a registered volunteer and would like to discuss the timing of your return to school, or are interested in hearing about options for virtual rather than in-person volunteering, please contact us via email or on the telephone number below.
If you are a partner school and would like to discuss any aspect of the resumption of our services, please contact us via email or on the telephone number below.
The safety of volunteers, children and teachers is of the utmost importance to Schoolreaders. If you have any concerns please don't hesitate to contact us on
* National Curriculum Assessments: Key Stage 2, 2019 (interim), www.gov.uk, updated 13/12/2019 Department for Education