SDLP Foyle MP Mark Durkan has chosen his favourite children’s books to support Save the Children’s “Change The Story” campaign to make sure poor children don’t fall behind with their reading.
Research published last year by the charity, showed that a quarter of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds have already fallen behind with their reading by the age of seven.
Mr Durkan was speaking after attending a parliamentary event calling on all political parties to include in their election manifestos a commitment to ensure that no child falls behind with their reading at primary school.
The Foyle MP picked “A Bear Called Paddington” as well as a book his nine-year-old daughter Dearbháil has enjoyed reading “The Story of Tracy Beaker” as his favourite children’s books, and said: “Reading opens up a whole new world – and is vital for many other life skills.
“It is crucial that young children are encouraged to read – whatever their background.”
Save the Children and literacy charity Beanstalk have launched the Born to Read programme to recruit volunteers to go in to schools across the UK to help children who fall behind.
Justin Forsyth, Save the Children chief executive, said: “We are delighted that Mark Durkan is supporting our campaign. No child’s chances or future should be determined by their family’s background or income bracket.”
To find out more about the Born to Read programme visit www.savethechildren.org.uk/about-us/where-we-work/united-kingdom/born-to-read or to become a Beanstalk reading volunteer visit www.beanstalkcharity.org.uk/reading-helpers
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