Eng: 'Libraries change lives': Cressida Cowell's open letter to PM Boris Johnson

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Debbie_Hepplewhite
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Eng: 'Libraries change lives': Cressida Cowell's open letter to PM Boris Johnson

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'Libraries change lives': Read Cressida Cowell's open letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson
Published on: 13 April 2021

Waterstones Children's Laureate Cressida Cowell has just launched her Life-changing Libraries project, which highlights the importance of library spaces for primary schools.
https://www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-f ... s-johnson/
Dear Prime Minister,

Millions of children, particularly those from the poorest communities worst hit by the pandemic, are missing out on opportunities to discover the life-changing magic of reading - one that OECD research suggests is a key indicator in a child's future success. How can a child become a reader for pleasure if their parents or carers cannot afford books, and their primary school has no library, or that library is woefully insufficient?

I am writing – with the support of former Laureates, literacy organisations, and publishing industry leaders – to ask the Government to help reverse the spiralling inequality in education by putting primary school libraries at the heart of our long term response to the pandemic with a ring-fenced, yearly investment of £100m.
The Government has committed to levelling up this country and so I know will be interested in this way of creating a fair playing field for all children. The Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson, has acknowledged that we should look beyond the recovery support package to do this. The devastating impact on the most disadvantaged school children is not going to be remedied with a quick fix. We must properly invest in their future at this pivotal moment.
Read the whole piece via the link above.
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