Warren Academy winners at The Farshore Reading for Pleasure Awards
Teaching staff and pupils at the Nottingham school have been celebrating after their joint win in the ‘Whole School’ category alongside Grove Road Community Primary School in Harrogate.
The award recognises the work by the school in developing reading for pleasure habits with the children and how this extends towards teachers, parents, carers and the community. During the award ceremony Fern Pithers, English Lead and Kellie Salam, Head of School were presented with their trophy along with £250 worth of Farshore books and a personalised letter from patron author Micheal Morpurgo.
Pupils at Warren Academy celebrate their win at The Farshore Reading for Pleasure Awards
Speaking after their win, Fern Pithers, English Lead at Warren Academy said, “We are so thrilled to have been given this award. It means so much to the school, our fantastic pupils and community. Over the past 12 months we’ve seen the social and emotional connection children can make through reading, helping them to build relationships and improve their wellbeing.”
Warren Academy has connected with its wider community through book sharing mornings, book swaps, reading camp, and celebrating reading at home using a reading vending machine. This has helped build a culture and love of reading for pleasure across the whole school.
Head of School, Kellie Salam added, “It has been fantastic to see how the culture of reading at Warren Academy has changed over the last year, and how invested the children are in reading. The Year 6 reading ambassadors have played a huge role in driving forward a love of reading and are an absolute credit to the school.”
The Farshore Reading for Pleasure Awards, in partnership with The Open University and UK Literacy Association, are a way to recognise, celebrate and share the creativity, strategies and sheer excellence found among Teachers, Librarians and educators who encourage children to read for enjoyment.
Fern continues: “Since we started this journey in September 2022, there has been a positive shift in attitudes towards reading across the whole school. Children, parents and colleagues are excited about reading and new books. It’s so rewarding to see children exploring books, swapping books between friends and wanting to read for pleasure.”