WORSBROUGH Common Primary School has received a £15,000 grant as part of a new project that aims to improve reading and communication skills.

The three-year project, dubbed ‘123, Read with Me’, will benefit almost 200 four to five year olds thanks to funding from education charity SHINE.

It’s aimed at helping parents to develop their children’s reading, writing and communication skills whilst at home.

Kate Ainley, the school’s deputy headteacher, said: “The project aims to address low levels of communication, language and literacy of children on entry to school.

“This is particularly an issue for disadvantaged children.

“We are building partnerships with parents and helping them to engage in their children’s learning, with a particular focus on reading.

“Nationally, many children, particularly those who are more disadvantaged, do not have opportunities to share and, enjoy and learn from stories in their homes and many parents are not aware of the importance of this or have the skills to do this effectively with their children.

“With these workshops, we are helping parents to support their children’s learning and promoting the importance of reading at home.”

The workshops have already begun and they’ve proved popular with both the kids and the parents.

Rebecca Paddock, headteacher at Worsbrough Common Primary School, added: “It has been great to see our newest families coming together to support their children at home.

“The sessions have had a great buzz and it’s amazing to see parents and children working together.”