Reading sessions served up at cafe

REFRESHING . . . The Wood Family, from left, Deegan Wood, teacher Sarah Davies, mum Gemma Wood and Demi Wood

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READING together is on the menu at a new cafe which is encouraging parents and their children to do just that.

Mayfield Primary School in Derker has launched a weekly reading cafe where children can enjoy the school's books with their parents, grandparents and aunties and uncles.

It runs for about an hour from 3pm on Tuesdays and refreshments are available.

The cafe is the idea of Year 6 teacher Sarah Davies, the school's reading lead, who said: "I love reading and I'm really passionate about it because if you can't read you can't do other things like maths or science. There's no local library any more, so this is a way of encouraging our families to read together and enjoy a nice, social time together."

And Sarah was overwhelmed by the number of people who attended the first session. She said: "When I had this idea I had sleepless nights because I thought nobody would turn up"

Head teacher Mark Couper-Barton said parents who read with their children each day, from books and magazines to pamphlets and websites, have a massive impact on schools.

"Children come to school better prepared for learning," he said.

"If children are not fluent, confident readers, it can significantly affect their life-chances and impact massively on other areas of the curriculum.

"Fostering a love of reading at home is crucial to children's future happiness and success. Parents are really important reading role models and research shows children's attitudes to reading improve the more they see their parents read. Reading books with children helps to stimulate imagination, expand their understanding of the world and improve language and listening skills. Children who are confident readers are ultimately better prepared for the world in which we live.

"It is our responsibility to ensure that children's life chances are not affected by their lack of ability to read. It's the partnership of home and school making that difference together and that starts at home."

Gail Jones, who was at the cafe with her children Rebecca (four) and Matthew (10) Proctor, said: "I wasn't sure what to expect but wow!"

Since Stoneleigh Library closed several years ago, she has to use the main library in Oldham town centre and she added: "For most people it's out of the way and it's not easy to get to. This is filling a void."

Jackie Stanton, a member of the school's management board, said: "This is an absolutely brilliant way of engaging with parents and welcoming them into the school.

"Schools and nurseries do an incredible amount of work but it starts with the parents and I am delighted so many of them have come to the cafe and feel comfortable in our school."