World Book Day (Thursday 3 March 2022) gives our schools the opportunity to celebrate reading and build on plans to instil a true love of reading into all Dorset’s children.
This year, Dorset Council’s Education Services have joined forces with our Library Service to put together a range of activities and events to celebrate World Book Day.
The highlights of the day include primary school pupils having author talks from Eileen Brown, famous for her book Handa’s Surprise, and Dan Freedman with his Jamie Johnson stories. Secondary school pupils will also be hearing from author Aoife Dooley and her new book Frankie’s Tale.
This exciting opportunity for Dorset’s pupils in the Chesil locality (spanning areas of Weymouth and Portland) falls within the scope of the Chesil Reading Project which was established at the beginning of the academic year to realise the aspirational outcome that every child is reading at or above their chronological age.
Cllr Andrew Parry, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help, said:
“World Book Day is a fantastic opportunity to encourage the children and young people of Dorset to develop a love of reading. I’m sure the author talks will go down a storm with pupils and go some way in encouraging, or possibly igniting, their passion for reading.”
Activities taking place during World Book Day
Book displays and class visits to local libraries will be taking place across Dorset:
- Dorchester Library and Learning Centre will be celebrating World Book Day with class visits from the Prince of Wales School
- Bridport Library has been hosting class visits this week from St. Mary’s School in Bridport and library staff will be visiting Bridport Primary School on Thursday
- Weymouth Library will be hosting a party on World Book Day (Thursday 3 March) from 4.30pm to 5.30pm to celebrate 25 years of World Book Day. More information.
Our Library Service welcomes visits all year round from children and families, with regular activities for children taking place throughout the year.
Join the library and find your local library or follow the Library Service on social media for regular events and updates.
What is the Chesil Reading Project?
At the start of this academic year all primary and secondary schools came together to take part in The Chesil Reading Project. This project is a collaboration of schools all committed to the raising outcomes in reading for children.
The project continues in its aim to develop and enhance reading and literacy opportunities across the primary and secondary curriculum with the aspirational outcome being that every child is reading at or above their chronological age.
Key areas of the project include:
- developing a positive culture of reading and literacy
- curriculum opportunities to enhance reading
- successful transition (into reception and into secondary school)
- parental engagement around reading
We are excited for future work involving all schools across Weymouth and Portland, and as part of school improvement, we are working with National Literacy Trust to draw upon their expertise to enhance reading and literacy provision across the Chesil locality.
