In 2002, Kennall Vale Primary School,
Cornwall set up the Reading Miles reading scheme to motivate
children to read more at home. Headteacher, Stewart Auty
describes the impact of this successful project.
This unique scheme was originally launched to improve pupils'
reading levels and to engage our parents to support their
children's learning more effectively. Reading Miles is a
simple concept: to award a certificate to pupils who regularly
read with their families. We could not have anticipated
the impact this idea would have. In the last school year,
97% of pupils gained the first level '25 times' certificate.
We have a range of certificates to celebrate families
having read together at home, starting from 25 times to
an incredible 200 times in one academic year. We also published
a 'Helpful hints for reading at home' leaflet to inform
parents of our expectations. This was well received, as
for the first time, the expectations of what parents could
do, and how they could do it, were made very explicit.
The children like the certificates presented during assembly
and parents like the acknowledgement for their support at
home. Teachers like the scheme because there has been a
massive increase in reading at home, with beneficial effects
on reading levels throughout school. For the last two years,
100% of year 6 pupils gained level 4+ in reading, and we
attribute this achievement to a high profile for reading,
both at school and at home.
I believe that becoming a successful reader opens all the
doors to future learning. Teaching children to read is the
most important aspect of our primary curriculum, and learning
to read is the single most important skill for children
to develop. Our recognition for reading at home not only
rewards the child, but also acknowledges the tremendous
support from parents and other adults at home. If we believe
that learning can be supported in partnership with parents,
if we believe that learning is a lifelong process and not
confined to school days, and if we believe that reading
success is a vital life skill, then we need to explore every
avenue to make the important things happen. And nothing
is more important than learning to read!
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