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Dads in Huyton, Knowsley have been working really
hard to boost children's literacy skills through Reading
Champions. The scheme, co-ordinated by North Huyton
Sure Start's family literacy co-ordinator, Claire
Glenn and father's worker, Jason McTigue, began in
June 2005 as an initiative to get dads and male carers
to make use of the local library and share books with
their children. It was launched with a creepy crawly
promotion event where male carers could come along
to the library with their children and see real live
owls, spiders, lizards and snakes brought in by local
Park Ranger, Kevin Bushall. Both Liverpool and Everton
Football Clubs donated signed photographs for any
dads who signed up for the scheme. A weekly drop in
session was then arranged in the library where dads
and male carers were able to come in with their children
to choose and share books together. Claire and Jason
are available each week to offer any support and advice
to the dads.
Book Trust's 'Baby Book Crawl' is used as the format
for the sessions and money was provided by North Huyton
Sure Start to purchase books for gifting the children.
The books purchased were 'My Dad' by Anthony Browne
and 'My Mum and Dad Make Me Laugh' by Nick Sharratt.
When the dads had shared 4 books with their children,
they received a certificate and soft toy and after
8 books they received another certificate and one
of the book titles. The system has proven really successful
in the area, where a lot of literacy barriers are
evident, and two dads in particular are really worthy
of praise, Brian Jameson
and Jon Gilbertson.
Father's Worker Jason arranged a trip to Liverpool
FC's ground, Anfield. The group were given a tour
of the stadium - including the team's changing room
- and had the chance to visit the museum where they
relived some memorable moments from Liverpool FC's
History. The group were also able to walk down the
tunnel to the pitch side and touch the famous 'This
Is Anfield' sign. Claire and Jason have been exploring
ways to maintain the group throughout 2006 and are
looking at the possibility of rewarding Champions
who attend the session on a regular basis with days
out. The first planned day out is an educational trip
of the Museum of Liverpool where the Reading Champions
will be able to take a trip back in time and visit
Ancient Egypt, amongst other exciting things. Knowsley
Library Service and Sure Start in North Huyton feel
that instilling an early love of books in children
is vitally important for developing children's literacy
skills as preparation for their life long learning.
What better way to do this than for dads to spend
quality time for with their children and share books
together.
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