​How to use this exemplar to improve practice

The aims of Pizza Reading are:

• To raise standards of literacy for both child and their family.
• To improve parental ‘skills in supporting their child’s reading development.
• To provide opportunities in order for parents and children to encourage a love of reading within the family environment.
• To increase confidence and parental involvement in all aspects of their children’s education.
• To encourage a legacy of cultural change and help to break down barriers for families towards learning and education.

It is aimed primarily at parents/carers of children in the early stages of primary.

Improvement questions

• What evidence do we have that family learning is improving the life chances of the family involved?
• Are outcomes for children improving as a result of their participation in family learning?
• To what extent can we demonstrate that families are feeling included and that they are participating, achieving and progressing?

Download(s)

Pizza Reading: sample session 1 (72KB)

Pizza Reading: sample session 2 (43 KB)

Pizza Reading: photography (103 KB)

Explore this exemplar

What was done?

Pizza Reading is organised in ten week blocks and includes family activities such as arts and crafts, family reading time, storybooks and storytelling.

The sessions are staffed with two literacy group workers (co-ordinated by the Adult Learning and Literacies Service) per school to work with and support the families to improve their reading skills.

At the end of the block of ten sessions all families are allowed to take their Treasure Reading Box home and all parents and children are presented with a certificate of participation.

Why?

Parental and family engagement in their child’s education is a key factor in ensuring successful outcomes.

This is an example of:

• Identifying and driving strategies to improve attainment in literacy and numeracy.
• Working with partners to explore new and innovative approaches to tackling inequality.

What was the impact?

The programme has evidence of increased engagement by parents in their child’s reading and improvements in their own literacy skills.