A NORTH-EAST primary school has celebrated World Book Day by refreshing a popular reading initiative – and they’re hoping to get the Prime Minister involved!

Children at Skerne Park Academy, in Darlington, were given their own ‘Reading Parrot’ on World Book Day as part of a drive to promote reading for pleasure.

The Northern Echo: Pupils celebrate World Book Day. From left: Jessica Todd (as Jessie the Yodelling Cowgirl), Oscar Kieltucki (as Harry Potter), Ivy Hunter (as Cinderella), Valentina Krohl (as The Lorax), Seb Merrick (as Dennis the Menace), Darcee-Mai Laidler (as the Dear Zoo giraffe), Isabella Fyffe (as Gangsta Granny), Oscar Orton (as Zog the Dragon), and Poppy Brischuk (as Hermione Granger)Pupils celebrate World Book Day. From left: Jessica Todd (as Jessie the Yodelling Cowgirl), Oscar Kieltucki (as Harry Potter), Ivy Hunter (as Cinderella), Valentina Krohl (as The Lorax), Seb Merrick (as Dennis the Menace), Darcee-Mai Laidler (as the Dear Zoo giraffe), Isabella Fyffe (as Gangsta Granny), Oscar Orton (as Zog the Dragon), and Poppy Brischuk (as Hermione Granger) (Image: Chris Barron)

Children at the school – which is part of the Advance Learning Partnership – also marked World Book Day by dressing as their fictional characters, making literary creations out of cardboard tubes, and guessing which disguised teachers were ‘The Masked Reader’.

Ruth Howard, Skerne Park’s English lead, said: “We’ve been in a flap giving out our new Reading Buddies today! The last time we did this, it was Reading Lobsters, and this year, it’s parrots.

“We originally launched Reading Buddies a few years ago when we opened our new school library. By giving every child a soft toy, it means they always have someone to cuddle up to and read with at home, which we’ve found is really effective for encouraging reading in early years.”

The Northern Echo: Teachers and staff got in on the fun. From left: Charlotte Gibson (as a crayon from The Day the Crayons Quit), Ruth Howard (as the Tiger Who Came to Tea), and Natalie Hogg (the Dear Zoo puppy)Teachers and staff got in on the fun. From left: Charlotte Gibson (as a crayon from The Day the Crayons Quit), Ruth Howard (as the Tiger Who Came to Tea), and Natalie Hogg (the Dear Zoo puppy) (Image: Chris Barron)

However, one Reading Parrot is harbouring parliamentary ambitions. The school’s headteacher, Clair Gooding, has been invited to visit Number 10, Downing Street, as part of her role as a Community Education Champion.

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During the visit, which is hosted by Damian Hinds MP, the Minister of State for Schools, she hopes to present him and the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, with their own Skerne Park Academy Reading Parrots.

“When we launched our Reading Lobsters a couple of years ago, we sent one to our local MP, Peter Gibson,” explained Clair.

“Mr Gibson very kindly took it with him to London, spoke in the House of Commons about our school, and sent a photo of himself introducing the lobster to Rishi Sunak – now we’re sending the Prime Minister his own, and sending Mr Gibson one to keep his lobster company!”