Langbank Primary achieves Reading Schools Gold Award

Langbank Primary recently achieved Gold Award accreditation in the Scottish Book Trust's Reading Schools programme.

For over three years, pupils have been participating in a variety of events and activities designed to promote the joys of reading.

Tracey Miller, acting principal teacher at Langbank Primary, said staff and students were "absolutely delighted" to receive the award.

She told The Gazette: "It was a lot of work to get there, so we're very happy.

"There is a list of criteria that you have to meet to promote reading for pleasure across the school and the community.

"Every classroom has to have a well-stocked library so children have access to good-quality reading books."

The school has welcomed a number of children's authors, such as Lindsay Littleson and Barbara Henderson, who provided signed copies of one of her books to pupils.

Other events hosted by Langbank Primary include community book sales, monthly 'book bistros' and visits from Renfrewshire Libraries' Skoobmobile.

Staff at the school also have provided information to parents about where they can access resources to carry on reading with their children at home.

Tracey said: "It's been a journey, as you need to get a bronze and silver award before you get the gold award, so it's probably been about three-and-a-half years.

"I think it's important to get this award as it helps keep in at the front of the children's minds, and our minds as well, how important reading for pleasure is.

"Sometimes we are so busy and the children can be so caught up in video games and things like that, so it's important for them to see they can get pleasure just from reading a book.

"It is relaxing and expands their vocabulary, as well as being a good family activity, such sitting reading together bedtime stories."

To celebrate their achievement, the school recently held a 'Golden Celebration Day', where the children participated in outdoor literacy activities such as reading and drawing.

Tracey added: "We decorated the playground in yellow and gold and our parent partnership have just bought the school a pizza oven, so we made pizzas and sat outside.

"The children all loved it and we were very lucky with the weather as well, it was a beautiful day.

"We are a small school, with only 80 children and a small staff, so it's a big achievement to complete this amount of work with such a small community."