The school year has, once again, began anew. Parents and guardians across the country have excitedly, tearfully, potentially even wistfully bid a fond farewell to the summer holidays and have sent their children back into the unfurling groves of academe that guide us all through early life.
It is fortuitous then that so early into the new year and new term there is International Literacy Day, celebrated this year on Friday 8th September. Why is this important? Well, Literacy is a fundamental underpinning of understanding and learning other subjects. Without being able to competently read or write, it is remarkably difficult to learn new information. Comprehension of the written word remains absolutely a constant pillar of education, learning and of personal mental development. Even the British education system prides itself on providing an extensive and wide-reaching course on literacy…and yet, it is still failing some individuals.
While 99% of all youth in the UK have adequate (or exceeding that level) literacy skills, 7.1 million adults can be described as having ‘very poor literacy skills’. This ‘functional illiteracy’ can lead to individuals feeling isolated and can lead to low self-esteem, to say nothing of how challenging it can make it to work, travel, try new experiences and socialise. This is why International Literacy Day is so important. How can we teach and guide and lead the future of tomorrow if we cannot read or comprehend writing today?
Thus it is plainly apparent that literacy is a fundament foundation for a happy and fulfilling life in 2023. Yet even with a youth literacy rate of 99%, encouraging young people to read and write widely (for their own enjoyment and not just as school work) is still essential. The benefits for their skills, ability and even mental health are untold!
Here at Fiesta we facilitate the continued development of literacy skills. We do this in a number of ways:
- Our playworkers will listen to children reading if they are asked. Our staff are happy to listen, help and encourage reading!
- Likewise, in our morning wraparound sessions, our staff take the opportunity to read to the students. We find that this activity calms and prepares children for a day of learning at school.
- We ensure that our wraparound provisions are well stocked with an array of books at all different levels, so that your child can always go to the quiet reading nook and enjoy some quiet reading time.
It is small but frequent opportunities, such as we offer, that can make all the difference to children’s abilities. Hence why we love to offer these chances to do some quiet reading. Indeed, even when we run our holiday camps we make a commitment to make sure that there is a story read before home-time each day.
Ultimately that summarises our position as a company: we are committed to providing enriching experiences to children, ones that may go on to aid and shape their development in a positive way.
For more information about International Literacy Day and its importance please visit this link: ild-2023-cn-en_0.pdf (unesco.org)