Management Information Sheet

The ability to read is the single most important thing which Norfolk educationalists and social care experts acknowledge would improve the life chances of our children.

But what we know currently is at the end of the year in which a Norfolk child turns 5, only 67% are achieving the expected level of reading (in the rest of the east of England this figure is 73%). This places us low in a table of all children in the east of England's early reading achievements.

Schools are an important way to help children become literate, but so is the support of families and whole communities.

So to support the improvement of literacy across Norfolk, Norfolk County Council kicks off a major campaign this month called 'Raising Readers' and as part of this Chief Officers have given their backing to a new scheme for all its non schools staff. This offers up to 2 hours per month paid time off, for them to help support children's reading in schools or early years settings by listening to children's reading practice.

A countywide register of schools and early years settings who would like this support is being compiled and if you would like to offer places to NCC staff members who want to take part in the scheme in your school or education setting please email staffviews@norfolk.gov.uk with the details of your school and a contact number.

The scheme is also open to staff who have an existing relationship with a school (e.g a parent or governor) to make their own direct arrangements so if you do have links with NCC non schools staff members please let them know.

• Security checks are not needed for NCC staff wishing to take part in this scheme as long as they are supervised by an appropriately checked person in a classroom or other setting, and the activity is less frequent than weekly (given the time allowed each month must included any travel time to the setting and then back to work we anticipate a maximum commitment of one lesson per fortnight). However you may request anyone who comes into your school regularly to undertake further vetting, which the individual will have to do at their own cost.
• The scheme is run entirely at the discretion of the school or early years setting which can stop participating or request the individual to end their support at any time.

Each school or setting will have its own particular advice for adults supporting children's reading - so please make sure you give advice to new helpers about the way you prefer them to help from the start.