PUPILS are helping younger children in their school gain a good start in reading and language skills.

Year nine students at Westlands School, Thornaby, have spent some of their homework club time organising a library for the toddlers of Westlands Parent and Toddler group. The initiative is being supported by Thornaby A Reading Town.

Pam Sayer, literacy coordinator at the school, said: "It provides a marvellous opportunity for our students to enhance their own reading skills, as they have helped order books, budget, organise borrowing procedures, as well as help the young ones choose their books.

"The Parent and Toddler group also benefits from the books and all the supporting activities we run for them."

Westlands School and Thornaby A Reading Town, organised a morning event to celebrate reading, where book characters, students from the school, brought the toddlers favourite books to life.

Millie Scaife, the project coordinator at Thornaby A Reading Town, said: "Enjoying reading isn't just for the children. When parents are involved in bringing favourite stories to life, with puppets and props, games and fun, all the family become involved."

Thornaby A Reading Town offers accredited courses for parents wishing to support their children's development, in partnership with school, home, the Adult Education Service and the WEA.

For further information, contact Millie Scaife on (01642) 341663.