The ability to read is at the core of all learning. Fostering a real love of reading is at the centre of our teaching at Christ Church Bentinck School. To achieve this, good resources and facilities are essential. Currently, our KS2 library is situated in an empty classroom with no adequate library furniture. As children are encouraged to change books frequently and make their own choices, this area can be noisy and crowded at key times in the day. There is nowhere that a child can sit comfortably and sample a book before making their final choice. The lack of proper library facilities risks sending a message to children that books and reading aren't really valued. In addition we hope to be able to purchase a piece of Software that computerises the library, this simple piece of software is very child friendly and will enable the children themselves to take ownership and responsibility 'staffing' the library.

What we'll deliver:

• furnishing a new library- shelves, seating area to provide a place for parents to share
• laptops, chrome books & good reading books and license for e-books
• Borrowing system and a librarian in future., visiting librarians and authors

Why it's a great idea:

A school library opens opportunities for the whole community gathering different generations of the community in one simple goal- the love of reading. Guided reading groups can take place in a space where there is an opportunity to explore the other work of a particular author or look at a range of non-fiction easily. Children will have a space to do their own research - key to making them independent learners. Our links with the community of external readers including those from BNP Paribas & Greenhouse Volunteers can be extended as they will have a quiet space to hear readers away from the disturbances of the corridor. We also hope to utilise the library to be a further community space, by operating parent/ toddler reading groups, hosting book clubs, and visits from local authors that will be open to the wider community. In addition become a wider teaching space where we would hope to enlist and up skill parent volunteers and other members of Christ Church Bentinck’s wider community

Steps to get it done:

• Start inviting a supplier to design and give us a quote for the furniture
• Rearrange the books and start sorting what we have and see how much we need to buy extra books.

We aim to provide support for the school, to enrich the education of pupils by developing effective relationships between the staff, parents Governors and the wider community associated with the school. We also aim to provide facilities and equipment and engage in activities to support and enrich the school life and environment of the pupils.However an enhanced library will open other opportunities for the school to work in partnership with other organisations. We can work with libraries and have visits from qualified librarians which can help the school to make best use of resources and replace old books. We can invite authors to encourage the love of reading and writing. We can also co-operate with other schools that we already work with in moderating the literacy work and maybe invite classes to come and use the library and in the future to borrow books- when life goes back to normal.