Information for teachers and librarians
Premier League Reading Stars is a partnership between the National Literacy Trust and the Premier League. If you are not already taking part, find out more about the project, or order our resource pack.
Trouble viewing the films?
School firewall settings or filters may block this content. Find out more about system requirements for accessing online challenges and trouble-shooting tips.
Need a school number?
School numbers are only supplied to schools that have purchased our resource pack, or are taking part in the project free of charge. They are not needed by any other participants. If you buy a pack, we will supply you with a school number as we confirm your order. Schools taking part free of charge will have been emailed their school number.
Each time a pupil enters a school number as they complete a challenge, they will be entered into our prize draw to win additional prizes. The draw is open only to pupils at schools that are taking part in the project free of charge, or have purchased our resource pack, who enter their number as they complete the challenge.
Online challenges for pupils
1. You do not need to register with our site in order for pupils to complete the online challenges. Pupils should be directed to www.premierleaguereadingstars.org.uk to see the full list of Premier League clubs and top players taking part. Challenges can be completed in any order.
2. Once they have chosen their first challenge, pupils can watch a short film clip (on the Premier League website) in which the footballer reads an extract from a favourite book, news article or website page, and asks questions about the content.
3. They can then pause the clip, and return to our challenge page to answer the questions. (Pausing the clip will help them keep their place in the film if they want to watch the same footballer's next challenge immediately afterwards. Each footballer has set five separate challenges based on different extracts.)
4. The extract is reproduced on our challenge page, so that pupils can refer to it, or use it instead of watching the film if your school's system is having problems playing the videos.
5. Each challenge has three questions, but only the first two can be answered by listening to or reading the extract. To answer the final question, pupils need to take up the challenge and read book, article or webpage, as the answer cannot be found in the extract.
6. When they complete a challenge, children will be asked to enter a first name and the first letter of their last name, along with their unique school number (if they have one). No further personal information or contact details will be required at any point to access challenges or rewards.
7. Once they have entered this information, they will be directed to their unique online reward, which will either be further exclusive footage of the footballer talking about reading, or a downloadable certificate.
8. Pupils who enter a school number can win additional prizes in our prize draw. We will use the school number to identify your school and contact you about their prize. Please ensure that you can identify each of the pupils you’re working with from the basic contact details they enter.
If you have any questions about Premier League Reading Stars, email plrs@literacytrust.org.uk.
This exciting and inspiring project uses pupils' enthusiasm for football to help improve literacy skills and reading behaviour, as well as fostering the crucial link between school and the home.
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