Dear Parents/Carers,

I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to you all to update you on the way we will be using the school library with Year 7 pupils next half term.

As you may be aware, the school library is out of action for the near future due to the restrictions placed on specific areas of the school due to COVID-19. With this in mind, I would like to introduce to you the new way we will be promoting reading for pleasure in school, with a specific focus on the Year 7. 

Our pupils’ success will be defined by their ability to read fluently and skilfully. Nevertheless, despite universal acceptance of reading’s vital importance, the reading gap in our classroom remains and over lockdown, it is likely to have widened. This is why we want to ensure all students have the chance to access some of the books in our library and we are using a new incentive to target all pupils in Year 7.

The new reading incentive is called ‘BookFlix’. Every half term a ‘trending’ list of six books will be sent round to all form tutors to share with their respective form groups. It will then be up to the student to email the library click and collect service (clickandcollect@thenorwoodschool.org) with their full name, form group and book request. This will result in the book being delivered to them by a member of the library staff during registration the following morning. Once the book is finished, it can be returned via the deposit box, which will be left in reception. Each student can win points for their House based on the number of books they read and return; a great incentive to get all students to read widely and to close the gap caused by lockdown in some cases. 

When BookFlix goes live at the start of next half term, you will receive an email with the trending six books. Please can you encourage your child to get involved and to choose a book, which best appeals to their interests. 

BookFlix aims to nurture pupils’ will and skill to read for pleasure and purpose whilst we are still coming to terms with the new normal. If you have any questions please contact me directly on galea.k@thenorwoodschool.org.

Thank you for your continued support.

Kind regards,

Kristian Galea

Assistant Headteacher teaching and Learning