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February 2024 February 2024
SPOTLIGHT ON …….. they are very proud of the certificate they get at the end of the year which shows
all the books they have read with their DRP volunteer.

They are given access to books that we don’t have in school and these get
the Bere Regis members of the targeted to each specific child. For example, we had a child who was fascinated
‘Dorset Reading Partners’ by dinosaurs, and the volunteer found them books about dinosaurs to look at and
by Janey Gordon discuss, as well as read elements of it. The “You choose” books work well and also
graphic books, which remove the stress of looking at a book with text.
In the parishes of Bere Regis and Affpuddle with
Turnerspuddle, and the villages these parishes Reading is so important. If a child can’t read, they can’t access other
include, there are a number of people who give their time and energies to knowledge.
support and enrich the local communities and individuals who live here. They Janey: Helen Locke is one of the DRP volunteers at Bere Regis School. Helen, what
contribute freely to the villages either as individuals or as groups and teams. made you volunteer with the DRP?
The parish magazine is running a short series to “Spotlight” some of these, and this Helen: My background is in industry safety management, but I have always
month we are featuring the Bere Regis members of the ‘Dorset Reading Partners’, enjoyed working with children. My own grandchildren are in Glasgow, so I think of
a charity whose volunteers go into Dorset primary schools and work with individual the children I work with as surrogate grandchildren! I’m working with children in
children on their reading and literacy skills. years 1 and 2 (5-7 year olds).
I began by finding out a little more about how the scheme works by speaking to It is so rewarding talking to the children, encouraging their social skills as well as
Rachael Brown the headteacher of Bere Regis School. reading. It is just lots of fun! When I take a child out of the classroom to read with
Janey: Rachael, how long has Bere Regis School been using the Dorset Reading them, I get other children coming up and saying, “Can I come and read with
Partners and how does it work in the school? you?”
Rachael: The school has been using the DRP for over fifteen years. Some people Janey: What did you cover in the training the Dorset Reading Partners gave you?
may remember Bonnie Stevens, who used to work in the school and is now the Helen: Well, obviously the safety of the children. Then we talked about all the
DRP Volunteer Support Coordinator. All the volunteers are all very well trained and different techniques to get them reading. What are their interests? If I am working
some have been teachers themselves. They are given excellent resources, books, with a child that likes trains, I’ll get books from the library about trains, maybe
games and all sorts of things to encourage the child. The school picks which comics and magazines. We might play games too. Anything that involves even
children get the support from the volunteers based on need and who would just a little reading, anything the child can interact with. I have a lot of
benefit from some one-to-one support, Each child gets 30 minutes a week and it’s conversations with them about their interests.
really special time for them. The children regard it as a privilege to take part and
lots of fun. It gives an added layer of nurture. At the moment our two volunteers, I find the Usborne series of Puzzle books a good resource. I read a bit and then
Laura and Helen are working with children in years 1, 2, 3 and 4, but we would pause, and the child fills in the word or we do shared reading. “I’ll read that and
really like more DRP volunteers. then you read that…”
Janey: Does the DRP support the school more generally? We don’t use schoolbooks. The DRP has a good supply which we can change
every term, but we also have a Teacher’s Card for Dorchester library and can get
Rachael: We also use community reading volunteers, who are local adults, who out relevant books. I found a ‘Top Trumps’ game and also a book about
come in and read with the children and we also have a buddy system where ‘Lightening McQueen’, a comic motor car, for one child.
older children in the school read with younger children, The DRP came into the
school and gave a training session to both the community volunteers and the Janey: I also was in touch with Laura Maunder who explained how she started as
buddies. They all really enjoyed it. a volunteer with DRP.
Janey: What impact to you see for the children involved? Laura: I have been doing it for two years now. When my son was at Bere Regis
School he benefitted from a reading partner and when I reduced my hours at
Rachael: The children who work with the DRP volunteers become much more work I decided to volunteer. I work with four children who are in year 4 (8-9 year
willing to engage with reading. We see an impact on their vocabulary too and olds). I really love seeing the children increase their confidence with me socially
and in their reading.

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