Spotlight on Schools: How a sponsored read and a community fundraiser helped a Lincolnshire primary to create a school café brimming with stories

The Holt Primary School in Lincolnshire worked with Independent Usborne Partner Sarah Singleton, who shares how impressed she was with the school’s positive reading culture, and how she helped them to raise money to get £750 worth of brand new Usborne books:

'I had the pleasure of working with The Holt Primary School on a Sponsored Reading Challenge, a Community Book Pledge, and an Usborne Book Fair. All three events were a success, and I was impressed by the school’s hard work to create a positive reading culture with its wider community.

Before the Book Fair itself, the school hosted a Reading Café where parents came in and enjoyed time reading together with their children – their enthusiasm was obvious, it was lovely. What’s more, parents and carers were then given chance to browse the Book Fair to buy gifts without the children peeping!

Mid-morning saw me launch the Sponsored Reading Challenge in an assembly, before opening the Book Fair to parents and pupils after school.

Pupils did an amazing job as part of the Sponsored Reading Challenge and were able to raise a staggering £600. With an additional £150 donation in the Community Book Pledge, they now had an impressive £750 towards brand new books.

The new home for the books is a lovely new space in school called the Star Books Café. It provides a vibrant area for children to appreciate reading. As well as the obvious reference to a chain of cafés, the name is a nod to my own team motto – ‘Sit together and read stories’ (S.T.A.R.S).

In addition to this, each class has recently introduced cuddly reading dogs that go out with a different child each week. The children read to the cuddly toys, and it makes for confident young readers.

Overall, working with The Holt Primary School has been an excellent experience.'

Deputy Headteacher at the school, Sarah Bell, was also incredibly pleased with the events, saying:

“We are thrilled with our new Usborne non-fiction books from our sponsored read! Just look at the fantastic, inspiring range! Our children are over the moon. Thank you Sarah, we have loved working with you and already can’t wait until next year!”

Congratulations to pupils, parents, and staff at The Holt Primary School for a truly inspirational set of book events and all of their hard work to create such a love of reading.

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