School
Library
Reading is extremely important at Woodhouse and the Library is one of our greatest treasures. It is stocked with a range of texts, both fiction and non-fiction, to engage all children as well as providing the pupils with a calm space in which they can relax whilst reading their favourite book. Each year group visits the library weekly where they are given the chance to change their book and where teachers can offer children advice on which book they might like to select next. The library is also open during and lunch times where children are able to listen to a member of staff read them a story or even take their accelerated reader quizzes.
As part of their timetable and to encourage children to develop a love of reading from an early age, the pupils in Key Stage one each have the opportunity to visit Quinborne library. Here the children are able to read from an even wider range of stories and also take part in some of the different activities which the librarians from Quinborne organise. The pupils are also offered the chance to sign up for their own library card so that they can visit outside of school hours and attend the clubs which the library offers during school holidays. It is an experience which the children have really enjoyed this year and which we will continue to take part in for the foreseeable future.
This year, we have also been lucky enough to secure Eamonn Reilly as our reading patron. This has meant the children have all interacted with a real-life author as Eamon visited to deliver an assembly where he read many short extracts from his books. He was then kind enough to stay and sign the books purchased by the children. Since then, he has also been in to work with year five inspiring them to read and to be author’s themselves. We are hoping he will return soon to continue sharing his love of reading with the children and to work with another year group to create some interesting stories!
To keep our library well maintained we have also trained a group of children to be librarians. They work hard to organise the library and to assist children who visit with their book choices. The pupils have been luck enough to work with a visiting librarian to learn how to use videos to recommend books to pupils making sure books which children select are enjoyable whilst still being within their Accelerated Reader level. Librarians are selected from years five and six during the autumn term and all children have the opportunity to apply for the positions.