Around 90 children gathered at Molineux to take part in a fun-filled literacy event with author Peter Kalu and the Wolves Foundation, using their love of football to motivate them to read.
Year 6 Pupils from Nishkam Primary School and Graiseley Primary School took part in a writing workshop based around sports journalism, a stadium tour, and an interactive storytelling experience.
The club author day was run by the Premier League and the National Literacy Trust to celebrate the efforts of children who have taken part in the Premier League Primary Stars programme, which uses the power of football to inspire primary school children to read and write.
Peter Kalu’s workshop allowed the children to shape their own story and had a great response from the pupils. The author also signed a copy of his ‘The Singer and the Snorer’ book for everyone to take away.
He said: “It’s amazing the energy that the children have. When you’re thrown into this setting with all of the kids and this enthusiasm it reminds you the purpose of stories.
“The children were really up for it, they participated so wonderfully and so creatively.
“When I tell stories I try to involve children so the story becomes theirs too and goes along the pathway that they choose. Then they are not just readers but they become the writers too!
“I think I had 10 children come up to me and ask how they can become a writer and that’s the exciting thing.
“It’s a great initiative and hosting it here at Molineux kind of demystifies reading and writing to show it’s for everyone.”
Wolves is one of over 100 Premier League and English Football League clubs taking part in Premier League Primary Stars. The programme includes Premier League Reading Stars, a reading intervention developed by the National Literacy Trust and the Premier League which has been proven to increase children’s reading levels by up to one year in just 10 weeks.
Marnie Richards, Senior Schools Officer at Wolves Foundation, said: “It was a fantastic day. Peter was really animated and brilliant at getting everyone involved.
“With the three workshops taking place, the day showed children the varied ways we use reading and writing in our everyday lives and the opportunities it can present.
“Hopefully the children’s love of football helps them to develop a love or reading and writing too.”
Jim Sells, programme manager at the National Literacy Trust, said: “We know from our research and decades of experience that reading for enjoyment improves children’s chances of success in school and in life.
Tapping into their interests helps to build this love of reading, which is why we use the motivational power of football to get children, especially struggling readers, into reading.
By bringing together local authors and football clubs, we are taking an important step towards inspiring a love of reading in children that will benefit them for a lifetime.”
For more information about Premier League Primary Stars and to sign-up, visit: www.plprimarystars.com
