Photo by MTJ Media

What you can do:

• Have reading induction meetings to explain how parents/carers can help with reading
• Role play hearing a child read so that parents know what to expect and what to do
• Provide advice and leaflets for parents from organizations such as the Basic Skills Agency or the National Literacy Trust
• Involve parents in national reading projects such as Dads and Lads, Reading Champions, Family Learning Week and so on
• Involve parents and carers in selecting books for the school
• Have an area of the library dedicated to parents and/or encourage parents to come in an share books and reading games with younger children
• Involve parents in celebrating events such as Children’s Book Week, World Book Day etc
• Run regular book swaps and events for parents
• Encourage parents to maintain their interest in their child’s learning beyond the early years. Adult support often tails off sharply once children ‘can’ read. Parents and carers do not always realise that reading skills can deteriorate – as can attitudes towards reading. Schools should therefore ensure that they encourage parents and carers to continue supporting the reading development of their children throughout their primary school years
• Be sensitive. Some parents or carers may have literacy problems themselves, or may not speak English as a first language, if at all. Some schools recognize this issue and put on specific programmes for these parents and carers, both to help their children and to help them develop skills themselves. The direct result of this sort of adult support at a school level is the creation of an improved learning environment for the child at home

If you would like more information about the reasons for some boys’ underachievement in literacy and how we can overcome this we suggest you read the Project X Handbook: Get the Boys Reading and Writing: The Essential Guide to Raising Boys’ Achievement.