Around a quarter of all children left primary school last year unable to read well. These children are at a disadvantage because they are unable to access their secondary education properly, and this has lifelong consequences. Just ten minutes a week with one of our volunteers has been shown to improve children’s reading fluency, comprehension and enjoyment. It also gives them valuable time with an adult who is not a teacher or parent, which aids their social skills. Nationwide, our volunteers support 30,000 children every week.
No qualifications or experience required. Schoolreaders volunteers do need to be able to speak, write and read fluently in English, enjoy spending time with children, be committed to the role and dependable. Volunteers must be over the age of 18 and willing to undergo an enhanced DBS check.
We ask that our volunteers are prepared to attend school at the agreed time on the same day once a week for at least 1 hour, and stay with us for at least one full academic year from when you start in school, however holidays can of course be taken during this time.
Unfortunately we are unable to reimburse travel expenses. We will always try to match volunteers with a nearby school.
We get regular feedback from our Schoolreaders volunteers and their comments overwhelmingly show how much they are enjoying the experience. Many describe their school visits as the highlight of their week and comment on how satisfying it is to see the positive impact that a little of their time has on the children.
‘I look forward to going to School every week and the children always greet me enthusiastically and are very friendly towards me, as are the Staff. It is very rewarding knowing that I am playing a small part towards helping the children and makes me feel that my contributions are valued and important.’
- A volunteer at a Lincolnshire School
Please visit www.schoolreaders.org to apply or email [email protected] for more information.
You will then be contacted for an interview either by telephone or in person. On successful completion of this stage we will take information from you regarding your availability, the distance that you can travel and any other personal requirements. These are used to find the 'best fit' of school for you.