THE UNIVERSITY of Reading is seeking funding for a scheme which helps young people in Whitley Wood with literacy skills.
The Whitley Wood Playgroup currently provides free, weekly storytelling sessions where young attendees can play and take part in group reading.
The sessions, open to children under 5, encourage engagement with a short storybook, which is read both at the beginning and the end of the group, with copies being handed out for free afterwards.
They began in November last year thanks to funding from Research England and Friends of Reading, providing notable improvement in the attendees’ enthusiasm for reading.
The university cites research which shows that shared reading activities early in childhood are a strong predictor of later literacy levels and overall academic achievement.
Funding for the sessions is due to expire in April, however, meaning the scheme is at risk of closure if further funding cannot be found.
It is currently the only early years provision for literacy support in Whitley Wood.
University of Reading research assistant Elli Walker helped set up the scheme, and said: “It would be heartbreaking if these sessions ended when they are having such a positive impact.
“We urgently need community funding to continue this invaluable resource into the next year.
“We have gained excellent momentum with the project now and we have seen friendships develop between the adults and children over the past few months.
“Parents have started expressing positive changes to their children’s enthusiasm and interest towards books and reading–it would feel like a tragedy for the sessions to end.”
