Page 35 - feb2024

February 2024 February 2024
Janey: What is the favourite book that you have used
with a child?
Laura: We always start with ‘You Choose’ which is a
great book to get children talking about themselves
without any reading pressure. Quite often children
want to go back to it again and again. Another
favourite is ‘Don’t Open This Book’ by Andy Lee and
its sequel ‘Don’t Open
this Book Again’. It’s
really funny and the
children love disobeying
t h e c h a r a c t e r ’ s
instructions to not keep turning the pages!
I also use games with the children. Some children
love memory games - and they often beat
me! Hangman is a favourite - I really enjoy seeing
them trying to work out what the answer is.
I think the biggest indication of success for me is
how the children become more confident in their
reading - knowing they can go at their own pace
and it’s OK to make mistakes or not want to read
some weeks or have me do some of the reading. I love how different all the
children are and how they all want to spend time doing something different with
me.
Janey: I understand that you were a school governor.
Laura: I have recently given up being a governor after about 8 or 9 years, I
think? Both my children went to Bere Regis school and I’ve seen it improve
massively over the years - all credit to Rachael and her team for giving so much
to the school. The school governors support the scheme. It adds more than
literacy to the school - it builds community links and helps prepare children for the
wider world.
Dorset Reading Partners is run by only three paid employees - Volunteer Services
Manager - Juliet Ruddick, Volunteer Support co-ordinator - Bonnie Stevens, and
Volunteer support worker - Mary Randall. Bonnie worked at Bere Regis school for
six years as a Teaching Assistant and was also a Staff Governor during her time.
The part time volunteer librarian, Jean, also volunteered at “the very happy
school” in Bere Regis for three years and the parish magqazine Editor, Alison
Debenham, is a Trustee of the charity.
New volunteers are always welcomed. If you want to know more have a look at
the website https://dorsetreadingpartners.org.uk/.

42 35