West Midlands helps boost children’s literacy

CHILDREN&#039S literacy levels have been given a boost thanks to a learning programme backed by West Midlands Co-op.
Around 30 seven-year-old pupils at Clothier Street Primary School in Willenhall, are each to receive two free books in the ?Let&#039s Get Reading&#039 scheme run by Walsall Education Business Partnership.
West Midlands Co-op is donating &#163 200, with the sponsorship being matched by Walsall EBP and Peters Bookselling Services in Birmingham.
Jane Dart, co-ordinator for Walsall EBP, said: "There has been positive feedback about the scheme because as well as improving children&#039s reading skills it encourages book ownership.
"Some children have been thrilled to keep hold of the books after at first thinking they had to return them once they had been read."
The scheme is now in its fifth year, having started with five schools, 200 pupils and one company sponsor. It has grown each year and this time there are 15 schools, 550 pupils and 11 company sponsors.
Harold Withnall (pictured), President of West Midlands Co-op, and Maxine Fish, Member and Community Development Officer for the Society, attended the school to present the first of the books to pupils.