Lightwoods Primary Academy in Oldbury received a generous donation of new books from local councillors Luke Cotterill, Harnoor Bhullar and Chipiliro Kalebe-Nyamongo, who allocated part of the Old Warley council budget to expand and enrich the school’s library.
The contribution, which coincided with World Book Day, gave pupils access to a wider range of reading material and reinforced the Academy’s commitment to developing confident and enthusiastic readers.
At Lightwoods, reading is at the heart of the curriculum. The school believes that alongside language development, strong reading skills are essential for pupils to fully access learning and make good progress. Daily ‘Story Escape’ sessions allow teachers to model expressive reading, ask thought-provoking questions and inspire curiosity, while a carefully chosen selection of literature ensures that children experience a broad variety of authors and texts.
Pupils also enjoy whole-class group and one-to-one reading sessions designed to develop fluency and comprehension, supported by regular assessments and online resources that can be enjoyed at home with their families.
John Ashton, Principal at Lightwoods Primary Academy, commented: “We were thrilled to receive this wonderful gift. These books will open up new worlds for our pupils and help us share the joy of reading throughout the school. It’s heart warming to know that our community values reading as much as we do.
“Reading is at the heart of everything we do here at Lightwoods, and these new titles will allow children to explore, question and enjoy literature both in school and at home. There’s nothing better than seeing a pupil’s eyes light up when they discover a story they love.”
Children were eager to explore the new collection, and the school hopes the donation will encourage even more learners to discover the joy and benefits of reading, enriching both their learning and their enjoyment of stories.
