The Reading Retreat

We are committed to providing children with a wide range of reading experiences and to promote reading for pleasure, something we strongly believe raises aspirations and provides opportunities for the future.

Kylie McKnight, English Leader and Deputy Head Teacher, asked the school’s PTA to come up with some ideas (and funds!) for transforming a gloomy shelter in the Junior playground into an outdoor library. Twelve months on they have certainly done that!

The fabulous Reading Retreat will promote a love of reading and be a special place for teachers to read to their class; moreover, it will give children on the Junior site somewhere to snuggle up with a book, and offer an oasis for pupils who would like some quiet time in the playground. 

The children had been buzzing with excitement about the Reading Retreat and couldn’t wait to start using it. Kylie recruited 15 ‘reading ambassadors’: children from KS2 who will be trained as librarians and given the very important job of organising and looking after the Reading Retreat. They, their parents and members of the PTA attended the grand opening – with guest author Ruth Brocklehurst  cutting the ribbon!

The school is very grateful for the work of their wonderful PTA who successfully bid for a £9,000 grant from The National Lottery Community Fund, a £4,000 grant from Jewson and a £6,000 grant for books from the Foyle Foundation in addition to earmarking significant funds raised through bake sales and all the other wonderful events they run throughout the year. All this hard work meant that the school could involve local architects, and Blackhorse Workshop, in developing the design and ensuring the project has real community input... and it looks gorgeous! 

See some pictures here from the opening.

The Journey ....

Architect drawing