Shibden Head Primary Academy has overhauled its pupils reading areas ahead of World Book Day which is set to take place on Thursday 5 March 2020.
The new facilities have been designed to include comfortable, inviting spaces for children to spend time solo reading as well as with other pupils to encourage them to work together and to inspire children to read more at home. This has also seen the introduction of new books for children to enjoy.
During World Book Day pupils at the school will be encouraged to come to dress as their favourite book characters and create a ‘book in a jar’ or a ‘book in a box’.
Children will also be able to purchase books at a Book Fair which will be running during the week commencing Monday 9 March.
Head of Shibden Head Primary Academy, Sarah Thornton said: “Nationally, 27% of pupils leave primary school unable to read at their 
expected level for their age.
“This is why at Shibden Head we are putting a full school focus on the importance of reading and how it can be a fun hobby for our pupils to engage with. Connecting with them at a school level will mean they will be encouraged to read more at home too.”
Michelle Harrison, Assistant Head and English Leader at Shibden Primary Academy, added: “With technology playing a bigger role in youngsters lives it can sometimes be difficult to get children to engage with books.
“That is why we have gone back to basics and made spaces where children can access the books a fun place to be, helping them excite one another about what stories they can unfold.”
Shibden Head Primary Academy operates as part of Focus Trust – a charitable multi-academy trust which is based in the North West of England with a vision of providing an engaging and challenging learning environment where the children are happy.
