Primary School Projects
Bookfeast’s work with Primary Schools is all about making reading fun, and encouraging children to enjoy reading and to read more. We believe reading opens up opportunities for every child – feeding the imagination, supporting literacy skills and developing and broadening their knowledge and understanding of the world.
LUNCHBOOX
LUNCHBOOX Clubs are our reading groups for primary school children (years 5 & 6). We piloted Lunchboox Clubs in 2009/10 and now run 12 groups across Oxfordshire.
LUNCHBOOX Clubs promote and stimulate children’s enjoyment of reading. They encourage children to read more, to explore books beyond their comfort zone and to develop confidence in articulating their responses to books. The Clubs help schools become or further establish themselves as ‘Book-Loving Schools’ as set out by Michael Rosen in his Just Read campaign.
We are grateful for the support of our Lunchboox partners and sponsors: the Ernest Cook Trust; Siobhan Dowd Trust; Oxford University Press; and Sants Charitable Trust.
Comments from children and teachers involved in Lunchboox Clubs:
“I am getting better at reading and I like the books we read.”
“I feel more confident in reading books out loud.”
“Lunchboox has helped to inspire the keen readers to access new material and look deeper into the texts they happily plough through, as well as encouraging the emergent readers, particularly the boys, to gain new experiences from books they otherwise would not have persisted with. It has been wonderful to see the children excited about text and connect it with the authors who created them. The author’s event at the North Wall Arts Centre was a particular highlight.” Deputy Head Teacher, Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School
“Lunchboox has drastically increased the enthusiasm for reading within year 5 and 6 in our school. Children who wouldn’t normally choose to read have been able to enjoy reading and discuss books in an informal, positive and safe environment.” Literacy Co-ordinator, Larkrise Primary School
“ Lunchboox has worked wonders with a wide range of children at Church Cowley. Two girls who don’t speak English at home have become voracious readers. In the space of six months, their reading scores have improved by two years”
Literacy Co-ordinator, Church Cowley St James Primary School
Other teachers’ comments:
“Really positive – both class teachers have commented on how enthusiastic the children have been about reading the Lunchboox books at home…and the enthusiasm has spread to other children.”
“..the main benefit was boys’ reading and levels of enthusiasm.”
We are proud to have Michael Rosen as patron of Lunchboox.
Bookfeast Schools Festival and Events Programme
Bookfeast brings books to life! Nothing is more inspiring than meeting a favourite writer; hearing how they work, how they got started, where they get ideas from and having the chance to get a special book signed. Since 1998 (as the Oxford Literary Festival Education & Outreach team) we have done just this for around 16,000 Oxfordshire children at over 100 events with top authors, illustrators and poets. Our programme of author events is now year long, with high profile events at a variety of venues around the county each term, and a 3 day Schools Festival in central Oxford each spring.
“The whole school was transfixed.” Dr South’s Primary School, Islip
“Excellent! Not long enough!” St John’s County Primary School, Wallingford
“Brilliant! Children thrilled with the signings.” Bladon Primary School