Book Flood
An interesting new development has been a link between schools and the Schools Library Service, under the title "Book Flood". Schools were flooded with an influx of new, high quality books, and targeted this exciting new resource at particular groups of pupils in a wide range of ways. The schools were sometimes given free choice of the books; sometimes were guided in their choice. Each loan of 250 books ranged from fiction to non-fiction; sophisticated picture books for older readers to graphic novels - and were chosen to extend the reading range and reading abilities of the target pupils. The schools taking part included primary schools, secondary schools and special schools.

Each school used the books differently - building into lessons; using them during lunch times; creating special activities around them; using them as a way to further engage with parents etc. Each school noticed different benefits, but overall these included the following:

  • improvements in behaviour and attitudes to reading
  • pupils talking more about themselves as readers and writers
  • greater awareness of different kinds of text
  • greater attention span
  • carrying out independent research
  • reading habits changed; more use of public library
  • pupils making their own books to higher level
  • discovering that reading can be enjoyable, not a threat
  • wanting to express their ideas in written form
  • some pupils gained a year on their reading age, in one term of Book Flood
  • spelling improved
  • formed basis of new home-school dialogue
  • ‘switched-off’ secondary pupils switched back on again
  • gave a boost to use of school library
  • more books brought in from home
  • formed basis of a Passport to Reading

PhotoSome quotes from the staff involved:

"gave me a focus for my audit of reading throughout the school"
"more than exceeded our expectations"
"no doubt that this has had a huge impact on our school"
"raised the status of books and book use in our school"
"big breakthrough with our reluctant boys"
"the children coming into my class did Book Flood last year - they are so switched on to reading!"

And from a parent (on visiting a school)
"what on earth have you done to my son - he just won’t stop reading"