PEOPLE could have been forgiven for thinking they had fallen into one of Martin Handford’s books on March 7, as Holsworthy C of E Primary School pupils came together in their red and white strips to celebrate World Book Day.

Reading is central to the curriculum at Holsworthy C of E Primary School and for World Book Day the children dressed up as ‘Where’s Wally?’ characters and took part in a range of activities to raise money and provide books for children around the world.

Over the past few years the school has tried to embed a very strong reading culture which it says has contributed to improved standard in teaching and learning and pupils’ outcomes. For example, pupils sitting the phonics screening test at the end of Year 1 achieve well above the national average and pupils make better than average progress in all subjects at the end of Key Stage 2. These achievements have been recognised by the local authority, who are looking at how Holsworthy C of E Primary can support other schools locally and by Ofsted. Last year, a visiting Ofsted inspector commented in his report: “There has been an effective whole school focus to promote a culture of reading. Pupils speak enthusiastically about reading and value the range of books available to them. The school library is a hive of activity and rarely vacant; pupils make regular use of the school library at breaktimes and lunchtimes to immerse themselves in books. The school librarian plays a pivotal role in helping to deliver leaders’ vision for reading, providing weekly reports to teachers about each pupils’ involvement in reading activity, as well as ensuring that the book stock is current.”

Head teacher, Tim Salvadori, is very proud of his wonderful staff, pupils and parents. Whilst the improvements are very much a team effort, Mr Salvadori in particular wished to thank Julie Mann, the school’s librarian, who has played a key role in embedding a culture of reading in the school. She supports staff and pupils to use the ‘Accelerated Reader System from Renaissance Learning’ which ensures pupils’ reading activities and progress is carefully tracked and the books the pupils are reading are appropriately matched to their reading ability.

In addition, Mr Salvadori praised Vikki Moore for her leadership of English, Laura Lewis for her leadership of phonics and Emma Gliddon for her efforts in organising such a successful World Book Day.

The director of professional services at Renaissance Learning, James Bell, said: “Congratulations to Holsworthy C of E Primary School. It is fantastic to see how the school has turned around its literacy fortunes and we are delighted that Accelerated Reader has played a crucial part in its success.”

For more of the Post area’s World Book Day celebrations, see page 9 of this week’s paper.