“Let’s make every Lewisham child a reader”, says Bridget Prentice MP 

Bridget Prentice MP welcomed more help to make sure all local children can get the help they need to learn to read. 

“When I read to young children I can see the difference it makes to them as they learn about the world outside and their imagination begins to grow and develop. We must make sure everyone has that opportunity. 

“But reading well is a crucial skill as well as a pleasure. And it’s one that many of us take for granted. We have a responsibility to make sure every child can deal with all the different challenges of the modern world. “That is why I’m backing the new scheme that will give intensive help for the children who need it to help them learn to read. 

“I urge local parents to get involved too – in their schools, helping their children to make the most of the support available; and at home reading together as a family.” 

Alan Johnson, Labour’s Education Secretary, said: “Being able to read well is fundamental to anyone’s education but it can also be a joy. It can open up children’s eyes to fresh perspectives and make them curious about the world.  “Research has shown that a love of reading improves a child’s life chances and that when children read for pleasure it improves their school results across the curriculum”. 

Notes to Editors 

1) Following a successful three year pilot, Education Secretary Alan Johnson and Chancellor Gordon Brown have launched the national Every Child a Reader (ECAR) programme. ECAR is designed to help 5 & 6 year old children with severe literacy difficulties learn to read. For the pilot £10m was made available to place specialist literacy teachers, trained in ‘Reading Recovery’ across 37 local authorities. Now all local authorities will benefit from a roll out of the programme which will see 30,000 children receive intensive catch up reading support by 2010-11.

2) The project will also explore the potential for those teachers to support tailored literacy teaching more broadly within a school, with an impact beyond those receiving one-to-one support.