Schools: Volunteer Reading Helpers

Baroness Gardner of Parkes Excerpts

Wednesday 11th January 2017 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Gardner of Parkes (Con)]

My Lords, is the Minister aware that some years ago, when my children were small, the local libraries used to run a big programme in the school holidays? Schools issued a list of books and the librarians’ encouragement for those children gave them a love of books and literacy. Surely that could be used again in the same way now.

[Lord Nash]

My noble friend makes an extremely good point on the importance of librarians. They can be crucial because they influence the books that are chosen. It is about not just learning to read, but what our children read and improving their knowledge.