Reading Relay

The reading relay runs across the academic year 2011-2012, linking primary, middle and special schools in the region through reading, sharing and evaluating books.

The reading is linked to the summer holiday national public library Reading Challenges in 2011 and 2012 right up to the start of London 2012 Games.

Schools will be put into “Friendship chains” that include schools from across the region matched by key stage. Each half term one school in the chain will be asked to select a book that they would like to recommend to the next school in the chain. The book they recommend must embody a specified Olympic and Paralympic value. There will be book discussions and activities around the book to help make their final selection.

At the end of the half term that school will email the next school with their recommendation (but will also copy in the other schools in the chain to keep them all involved throughout the year). In the last half term of the academic year 2011/2012 all participating schools will be asked to vote for their most inspirational books of the year.

The project will not only build friendships between schools, but the discussions that children will have in school to determine their choice of book will help them develop the Olympic and Paralympic values as well practising speaking and listening skills and critical thinking.

The Reading Relay will be co-ordinated by Essex Libraries who are working with colleagues across the Eastern region: Essex Public Library Service, Essex School Library Service, Hertfordshire Public Library Service, Hertfordshire School Library Service, Southend Libraries, Thurrock Libraries and Slough Libraries (who will be managed by Essex Libraries from January 2011).

The legacy of this project will be lasting friendships between schools and the potential for more co-operation between schools and the library service, inspire reading and help children to develop evaluative reading skills.