Islington Tribune - News: Schools secrety spreads the word

Publications by New Journal Enterprises

Home

Archive

Competition

Islington Tribune - by ED CUMMING
Published: 21 December 2007

Secretary of state Ed Balls join the children and staff at Laycock Primary School for the Book Trust event.

Schools secretary spreads the word… reading is good for you

EDUCATION secretary Ed Balls was on rib-tickling form when he visited an Islington school on Wednesday.
Mr Balls read from Janet and Allan Ahlberg’s classic Funnybones at Laycock Primary School. Delighted children joined him for the story’s finale song, which begins “the toe bone’s connected to the... foot bone”.
He was accompanied by Islington South and Finsbury Labour MP Emily Thornberry, who said afterwards: “A high proportion of children never get read to, which can mean they don’t get into the habit of reading, and then they miss out on so much. Children are very influenced by the attitude of their parents, and many parents feel libraries and bookshops are not for them. Parents that are happy to help out with cooking are much more reluctant to come in and read to the children.”
Before he became an MP, Mr Balls spent a year unemployed, during which time he did voluntary reading for children.
The event at the Laycock Street school was organised by the Book Trust, which promotes reading by distributing free books to schools.

Comment on this article.
(You must supply your full name and email address for your comment to be published)

Name:

Email:

Comment:

Your Comments: