May be of interest:
"The report of the libraries all-party parliamentary group, entitled The Beating Heart of the School, last week concluded that it is vital that all schools have a good library to ensure children develop essential literacy and digital literacy skills in order to fulfil their potential. Responding, the schools minister, David Laws, said: "Reading for pleasure and study has a well-documented positive impact on children's educational attainment across the curriculum."
<http://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/jul/15/scrutinise-schools-on-library-provision>
"We – authors and illustrators, teachers, librarians, parents and others – are keen that this recommendation does not just become another piece of wishful thinking, and call on the Department for Education to act immediately on the report's conclusions to gather data on library provision and instruct Ofsted to include libraries in its remit. This is urgent. Schools lost 280 librarians last year. At the very least the department should convene a working group including librarians', authors', headteachers' and teachers' representatives to draw up an action plan to realise the aim of a good library in every school.
Signed:
Alan Gibbons Campaign for the Book, Kevin Crossley-Holland President, School Library Association, Andrew Motion, Michael Holroyd, Kathy Lette, Malorie Blackman, Children's laureate, Barbara Band President, Cilip, Jacky Atkinson Organiser, Kid's Lit Quiz, John Dougherty Chair, Children's Writers and Illustrators Group, Society of Authors, Rachel Kelly Chief executive, Reading Matters, Christine Blower General secretary, National Union of Teachers, Kevin Courtney Deputy general secretary, National Union of Teachers, Alex Kenny Chair of education and equality, National Union of Teachers, Nicola Solomon Chief executive, Society of Authors [and others]
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Adrian Smith, Headingley
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