Sandy Lane’s TV stars

A SPECIAL televised Rhymetime session for Good Morning Britain took place at Sandy Lane Children’s Centre in Orford this week.
As part of Good Morning Britain’s Just Read campaign, families gathered at the centre to take part in a Rhymetime inspired by reading charity Booktrust’s flagship programme, Bookstart, in order to demonstrate the importance of reading and sharing books from a young age.
Mum Maxine, who runs a playgroup, attended with her two daughters and said: “We’ve found that reading together has given our family more confidence and I believe if children interact with books it helps them express how they’re feeling.”
The early-morning Rhymetime, led by LiveWire’s family reading co-ordinator Miranda Greenwood, was featured on Good Morning Britain as presenter Ranvir Singh spoke to actress and mum Lucy-Jo Hudson and Booktrust’s Sharon Palmer-Johnston about how reading at a young age can have a positive and beneficial impact on a child’s development.
Speaking about Bookstart book packs, which are gifted to all babies in the UK during the first year of their life and also when they reach 3-4 years, Miranda said: “The books are great for the age range, and when parents receive the book packs they realise reading isn’t just something that children do at school.”
Recent research has shown that as many as four in ten children leave primary school not being able to read at the level they should, which is why Booktrust has joined Save the Children’s ‘Read On. Get On.’ – a campaign that wants all 11 year-olds reading well by 2025. The research has also led to Good Morning Britain starting their own Just Read campaign.
Cllr Jean Carter, Warrington Borough Council executive board member for children and young people’s services, said: “We were delighted to see Sandy Lane Children Centre and all those involved in this great scheme in the spotlight this week and it is fully deserved.
“There are dedicated staff from the council, LiveWire and Booktrust who not only encourage children to read but also promote the joys of reading to parents and families and it was lovely to see them shine.”