Delight as Lainesmead collects national award (From Swindon Advertiser)

Delight as Lainesmead collects national award

8:55am Friday 25th June 2010 in

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LAINESMEAD Primary School has outshone 19,000 primary schools to scoop a prestigious national award for the way it teaches its pupils to read.

The award was presented to four pupils, reading recovery teachers Helen Byrne and Sarah Burgess and head Jeannette Turner at London Zoo on Tuesday.

The awards are presented by the Every Child A Chance Trust, a Government-backed charity set up in 2007.

The charity supports socially disadvantaged children by providing specialist one-to-one literacy and numeracy lessons for the lowest achieving youngsters.

Lainesmead, in Old Walcot, which has 352 pupils aged from four to 11 was one of just 32 schools chosen from 19,000 primary schools in the country.

In its citation the trust said Lainesmead was singled out for the award for the way it has supported reading within the school with a reading recovery teacher, trained better reading partners, peer coaching, reading workshops for parents and most recently volunteer reading partners from the community.

Headteacher Jeanette Turner, said: “I am so very proud of all we have achieved with this scheme.

“As a result we have children who are not just readers but passionate readers.

“In fact, when the children got their award goody bags they each pulled out a book, sat down and immediately began to read. It was heartwarming to see.”

As a result of the Every Child A Reader programme, the school’s SATs results have markedly improved with 34 per cent of children at the school are now achieving an above average grade.

Year six children – aged between 10 and 11 – also give up their lunchtimes help other children read.

After receiving the award, the children were given a tour around the zoo and met Tony Ross, author of the Horrid Henry children’s books.

“It was a very memorable day,” said Mrs Turner.