Puffin on hunt for 80 new schools to join World of Stories programme

Puffin is looking for 80 primary schools to join the Puffin World of Stories programme, as part of a wider mission to close the creativity gap. 

The flagship programme in partnership with the National Literacy Trust aims to reinvigorate school libraries and establish them as “vibrant hubs of creativity and imaginations”, for free. Applications to join the 2019 programme, for schools located in Essex, South London, Middlesbrough and Tyne & Wear, are open from Monday 14th April until Friday 17th May.

According to research from the National Literacy Trust (NLT), 10-year-olds who enjoy reading have a reading age 1.3 years higher than their peers who do not enjoy reading, rising to 3.3 years by the age of 143, while children who enjoy reading are more likely to have higher levels of mental wellbeing than their peers.

Puffin and the NLT launched Puffin World of Stories launched a pilot programme which aimed to help 50 primary schools reinvigorate their school libraries and champion reading for pleasure in 2018. 

“Of those schools already taking part, 100% of those running the library have said they feel better equipped to develop a reading community upon completing the training,” said Puffin. “The same proportion also felt they were better informed about how to about how to engage with pupils to inspire reading for pleasure.”

Francesca Dow, m.d. of Penguin Random House Children’s: “Schools across the country work so hard to get their pupils reading for pleasure. Yet we know that schools often just don’t have the time or resources to invest in their libraries or reading spaces.

“At Puffin we want every child to have the opportunity to meet their creative potential: we want to help close the creativity gap. To inspire and help children discover the magic and creative freedom of reading for pleasure is a powerful and practical way to do that. That’s what Puffin World of Stories is all about. Through the programme, we hope to equip teachers with the tools, knowledge and inspiration they need to bring the magic of reading to life for their pupils. We are delighted now to extend this support to 80 new schools across the UK.”

Schools can apply to take part online.