News

Bourne Education Trust is delighted to announce that Sayes Court Primary School, winner of the whole school category of the Egmont Reading for Pleasure Teaching Award 2020, will now also feature in an Open University (OU) short course, expected to reach over 10,000 learners within its first 2 years, ‘Developing Children’s Reading for Pleasure’.

In partnership with The Open University and UK Literacy Association, the Egmont Awards (now Farshore) were launched in 2018 to celebrate and recognise teachers, reading champions and schools whose practices make a real difference to children’s reading for pleasure. As winners of the whole school category, Sayes Court were able to demonstrate how they have built a community of engaged readers through a number of carefully considered strategies including (but not limited to) developing range, stamina and storytelling skills, as well as improving and developing their reading environments, considering the social aspect of reading and improving their teacher knowledge of children’s literature to ensure that pupils were enjoying the books that they read.

Having started their reading for pleasure journey in 2018, and despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, practices are now fully embedded at the school with 100% of children having read a book they enjoyed. There has been a sharp improvement in both progress and attainment, including a 19% increase in pupils achieving expected attainment in reading by the end of KS2, and now in addition to their inclusion with the OU, Sayes Court are also able to share their good practice with other local schools.

Rochelle Richmond, headteacher said: 'We are thrilled to have our reading practices recognised in this manner, and incredibly excited to positively impact the development of children’s reading for pleasure outside of our community. My team and the children at Sayes have worked with enthusiasm and commitment throughout our RfP journey, and to have our strategies included in the OU's short course is a real honour.'

Alex Russell, CEO said: ‘What Rochelle and her team have done at Sayes Court has been phenomenal. We are immensely proud of what they have and continue to achieve at the school.’