Issue - items at meetings - Reading Strategy

Report of the Director of Children’s Services (copy attached).

1.       That the Reading Strategy and its approach to improving reading across the city be agreed.

5.1     The Board considered a report of the Director of Children’s Services concerning the Reading Strategy, a consultation document designed to engage more people in the development of an action plan to improve reading across the city (for copy see minute book).

5.2     The Secondary Schools’ Adviser stated that the strategy had been well received at the launch in May 2009 and indicated that the emphasis of the strategy was on helping children to enjoy reading. 

5.3     The Board welcomed the report and engaged in discussions about the proposed strategy.

5.4     In answer to questions, officers clarified that Bookstart, a reference made in the report, was a Government funded scheme which made books available to children at different stages of their development (at baby stage, toddler stage and at later stages).

5.5     Councillor Fryer indicated that she had some concerns about promoting reading at early ages in that this approach could bring pressure on children at that stage to read and perform well. She requested whether there was scope to include the importance of reading for enjoyment.

5.6     The Secondary School’s Adviser noted Councillor Fryer’s suggestion. He explained, however, that monitoring reading for pleasure was not a straightforward process and would be difficult to carry out. 

5.7     Members enquired about the provision for children with particular needs and whether the Government Bookstart initiative took account of such children and gave them the same access to the services offered.

5.8     The Secondary Schools’ Adviser explained that the Reading Strategy listed some of the arrangements in place to address children with particular needs, such as those with learning disabilities and children and parents whose first language was not English.

5.9     The Director of Children Services noted the difficulties that existed in including all the details in such strategy. She reassured Members, however, that such provision existed, for instance the use of sign and audio-books for children with learning disabilities.

5.10    Members indicated that they would welcome an action plandetailing the information available to support those children with particular needs.

5.11    Members referred to the adult literacy and the estimated 12,000 people lacking in basic literacy skills. Members enquired about the reasons behind such high figure in the lack of literacy skills in the adult population.  

5.12    The Secondary Schools’ Adviser indicated that a great number of those adults had not been educated in Brighton & Hove and that they also included a particular section of the population, such as asylum seekers and refugees. The Director of Children’s Services also noted that, although the focus of the CYPT was on children and young people, the Trust also supported and had been involved with adult learners. She had recently participated in an awards ceremony celebrating the achievement of adult learners in Brighton & Hove.

5.13    Members also identified the need to take account of the travellers section of the population, an area which they thought had not been covered so far, and recognised that, within the travellers’ culture, there was little opportunity for children and adults to learn to read.

5.14    Members reiterated their approval of the strategy, whilst also recognising the important role that parents played in helping and supporting their children with reading not only at young age, but also at later stages of their development. 

5.15    RESOLVED – That, having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Board accepted the following recommendations:

(1)      The Reading Strategy and its approach to improving reading across the city be agreed.