A New Chapter for RAPS Readers

Young readers of all ages enjoy regular termly visits to the team at Newington library this term where they can explore the varied selection of fiction, non-fiction and reference material.

Children use their own library card to borrow books. They also have the opportunity to spend time in the calm and inviting environment sharing books with each other. Teachers have been especially excited about borrowing resources linked with the termly history, science and geography topics.

Teacher Claire O'Flaherty co-ordinates the visits and is the school’s Reading Lead. She explained how important the initiative is for pupils: “We hope these visits inspire wider reading experiences that help expand the children's imagination and curiosity.

“Kent County Council libraries have been very accommodating, helping us arrange the link and assisting with setting up library cards. We are looking forward to our pupils and their families engaging with this fantastic services more as the year progresses.

“At RAPS our aim is to foster a life-long love of reading and help children discover their reader identity. Regular visits to the library exposes them to a wide variety of books and authors and provides them with an opportunity to choose books independently based on their own interests.

“This initiative helps cultivate a love for reading and sparks curiosity, which is crucial for developing literacy skills in their foundational years.”

Pupils look forward to their trips to Newington Library. Teddy in Year 1 said: “'I loved finding all the different books,” while Cleo in Year 2 added: “'I liked that I could borrow so many books and I liked how there were toys there too.” Year 5 pupil Joseph agreed: “It was really quiet and I liked reading there.”

Meanwhile RAPS’ own library continues to develop. Teachers have focused on making reading corners inviting spaces, while also developing the book choice with their children's interests in mind.

The school has a team of pupil reading ambassadors who represent their classes and are in charge of feeding back book interests to their teachers.

Literacy development is an important cornerstone of education at RAPS which holds special week-long festivals, celebrates the annual World Book Day, encourages visits from authors and poets, and nurtures creative writing as part of curriculum topics.

Earlier this year Ramsgate Arts Primary was selected as Kent’s only associate school by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education.

To qualify RAPS demonstrated a whole-school commitment to deliver their English curriculum through the literacy charity’s flagship Power of Reading training.

The CLPE ethos is to raise the achievement of children's reading and writing by helping schools to teach literacy creatively and effectively, putting quality children’s books at the heart of all learning.

RAPS now supports the CLPE with the training of other schools online in how to best use the resources and reading schemes available – and other schools in Kent have the chance to visit in person to see RAPS ‘best practice’ in action.

Ramsgate Arts Primary School is part of the Viking Academy Trust with Upton Junior School and Chilton Primary School.

*For more information, contact Head of School Nick Budge on 01843 582847