Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
2017 Summer Reading Challenge: resources for teachers now online
As libraries across the UK get ready to introduce children to new worlds of facts and fiction through Animal Agents, the 2017 Summer Reading Challenge™ - which is created by independent charity The Reading Agency – special resources for primary school teachers to use in the run-up are now available.
Across the school summer holidays, Animal Agents will introduce young readers to a variety of clever creatures, specially trained to use their skills and natural instincts to unravel mysteries. Animal Agents is illustrated by Tony Ross, illustrator of the hugely popular Horrid Henry series. He is published all over the world; his awards and nominations include the Roald Dahl Funny Prize, Kate Greenaway Medal, and the Smarties Prize.
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The schools pack for England & Wales is now online here
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The short link for schools resources is: www.readingagency.org.uk/schools
Each year the Summer Reading Challenge to children is simple. They’re encouraged to read six or more books of their choice – fact books, joke books, picture books, audio books just as long as they are borrowed from the library – during the holidays. There are collectible incentives and rewards, plus a certificate for every child who completes the Challenge. Children can sign up at their local library from the end of June onward and all materials are absolutely free. (NB: exact start dates for the Summer Reading Challenge can vary around the UK, as do schools‘ breaking up dates for the summer holidays: please check with your local library.)
The Summer Reading Challenge is open to all primary school children and is designed for all reading abilities. Schools work with local libraries and give out information to encourage children to take part, and most libraries run Summer Reading Challenge linked early years activity for pre-schoolers.
Here’s how you can get involved:
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Head to your local library during the summer holidays and enrol. It's completely free and any child can take part.
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Children can chat, get reading recommendations and enter competitions all year round on our Summer Reading Challenge website.
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Teachers, parents and children can also gain Animal Agents-related reading inspiration from the Summer Reading Challenge 2017 book collection. It comprises 70 must-have reads for children aged 4-11, with something to suit every young reader. Many of the books in the collection are new titles which will be published this summer, and will be displayed in libraries during the Challenge. There are two lists - one for younger children and one for older children - representing the best in contemporary children's fiction, fact and puzzle books, poetry, picture books and graphic novels.
Once again this year, children’s publishers are supporting the Summer Reading Challenge, and there are also large print Summer Reading Challenge materials available for visually impaired children, or visually impaired parents/carers, thanks to the support of the RNIB National Library Service. In Scotland the Challenge runs as Tesco Bank Summer Reading Challenge Scotland.