February 2010
School Library Award 2010/11
The March deadline looms for schools to nominate their school libraries for the School Library Award and send in portfolios of evidence to LRE.
For further details about the Awards criteria, nomination forms, past winners ceremony and present portfolio submission dates visit our School Library Award Page.
January 2010
LRE Book Challenge Children's Literature Quiz
The fiercely competitive annual LRE Northamptonshire Schools Book Challenge for secondary and middle schools will take place on March 9th at Sir Christopher Hatton School.
Find out more and download an entry form from our
Developing Young Readers Page.
November 2009
Getting Boys into Books with author Tom Palmer
The LRE Question of Sports Quiz and evening author event
As part of the national Boys into Books initiative aimed at inspiring boys to read for enjoyment, LRE hosted an exciting sports quiz with football fiction author Tom Plamer for pupils in years 5 & 6. It took place at Northampton Town Football Club with teams being asked questions on a wide range of sports in order to win some fantastic prizes.
These included prizes donated by Northampton Town Football Club, Silverstone Racetrack and the Northampton Town Saints Rugby Club. Overall winners were Bugbrooke Primary with Bridgewater Primary winning the penalty shoot out competition.
Tom Palmer, complete with his inflatable goalposts, then went on to create quite an impact on his lively audience at his evening event at the LRE Showroom. Tom talked about how he was a reluctant reader as a child but with the help of his mum became inspired by reading about his favourite sports. He then went on to become a sports writer and football story author. He is also official writer for the Premier League Reading Stars Scheme.
In all his stories Tom often uses reading as an activity that empowers his characters. For younger readers Tom has written a series of books focusing on the players of United’s under twelve's. For older readers there are the adventures of Danny Harte, the Football Detective. The first in this series Foul Play was shortlisted for the Blue Peter ‘Book I Couldn’t Put Down’ Award.
Find out more about Tom at: www.tompalmer.co.uk
October 2009
LRE Customer Survey
We are undertaking a customer survey of schools that use our services, this has now been sent to subscribing schools. The aim of the survey is to provide feedback on our resources and services. The resulting data will be used to improve customer satisfaction and service delivery. An evaluation report will be produced and sent to all schools.
We believe it is important to gain different perspectives as to the value of your Schools Library Service. The form should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete. Each completed survey will be entered into a prize draw to win £100 worth of books. Please return the survey to Learning Resources for Education by November 6th.
Please contact LRE at LRE@northamptonshire.gov.uk or 01604 773930 if you would like another copy of the survey sent to your school.
August 2009
Boys Writing Project
Throughout the summer, LRE have been working in partnership with the Learning Achievement and School Improvement Team (LASI) on the Boy’s Writing Project, which aims to close the gap in attainment between reading and writing amongst primary school boys. Author Steve Bowkett led creative writing workshops to inspire boys to get writing, showing them how to generate ideas and ways to organise their thoughts and get them down onto paper.
The workshops were a great success. Steve captivated his audience with his funny tales and stories from his childhood. His techniques gave the boys an enthusiasm for writing and a wealth of ideas. It was wonderful to hear the stories they planned to write and to see how simple techniques could help develop ideas. Comments included: "It was brilliant", "It was a great experience" and "Thank you Steve for inspiring me to be an author"
The project will continue in the Autumn with a booklet of young writer's work being produced.