A library card for every child!

Littleham School heads for library en-masse

Every child from Littleham Primary School now has a library card, as part of a project from Libraries Unlimited to increase literacy, and many of them have just paid their first visit to the library.   
 
In four groups, they were introduced to the library and told how to find books, with the chance to select and take books home.

Reception class sang nursery rhymes, danced, listened to interactive stories and did colouring, Years 1 and 2 were given an ocean theme and explored playing with words through poems, riddles, jokes and tongue-twisters. Years 3 and 4, and then Years 5 and 6, were read the first chapter of several books and asked to give their impressions and says whether they were curious to read the rest of the story.   
 
The school visit to Exmouth Library is part of the Littleham Project, run by Libraries Unlimited. The charity, which runs the 54 libraries across Devon and Torbay, is on a mission to close the literacy gap by empowering parents and children and supporting teachers and practitioners with a special initiative, believed to be the first of its kind in England. 

Of the 81 neighbourhoods in East Devon, Littleham is the only one in the 20 per cent of most deprived areas in England. Libraries Unlimited data shows that only around eight per cent of children in Littleham currently visit Exmouth Library, compared to the Devon average of 20 per cent.

Littleham's Headteacher, Tom Paddon, said: "At the beginning of the year, we set out with the target of ensuring every pupil could have a library card so they have books for life. Last Friday was the wonderful realisation of that becoming reality. Seeing our pupils excitedly take out such a selection books was a real highlight. Thank you so much to Libraries Unlimited for funding our trip to the library and Beatrice and her team at Exmouth Library for being so accommodating. The children loved it!"