Priti Patel thanks schoolchildren for participating in her 2020 Get Witham Reading project
Witham MP, Priti Patel, has thanked children at seven schools across the Witham constituency for taking part in her ninth annual Get Witham Reading event today (3 July 2020).
Priti established Get Witham Reading in 2012 to promote reading and improve literacy skills in conjunction with local schools and she announced in April that this year’s event would still go ahead despite Covid-19 restrictions. Priti invited children to participate at school and online, encouraging them to read as many books as possible or submit book reviews and poems to her office by Friday 3 July 2020.
Today (3rd July), pupils at Powers Hall Academy, Templars Academy and Silver End Academy took part in a number of activities at school, including reading in groups and creating story boards, and Priti recorded a message for the schools to play for the children on Get Witham Reading day. Priti also received book reviews and poems from pupils at Tiptree Heath Primary School, Kelvedon St. Mary’s Primary Academy, Stanway Fiveways Primary School and Maltings Academy.
Priti said: “I am delighted that so many children across the constituency participated in Get Witham Reading 2020 and I send my thanks to all the schools and pupils that ran activities or submitted book reviews and poems for making this year’s event a great success. Despite these unusual times and the impact that the coronavirus pandemic has had, I hope everyone who took part had an exciting day of reading and storytelling.
“Get Witham Reading is such an important initiative to inspire children of all ages to appreciate the joys and benefits of reading. I hope all children that participated this year will continue to read both inside and outside of school and I am already looking forward to launching next year’s event!”
Mrs Jane Bass, CEO of Connected Learning MAT said: “Three of our schools based in Witham – Powers Hall Academy, Templars Academy and Silver End Academy – participated in Get Witham Reading today and it is really heartening to be able to continue with this year’s event, even if it is on a smaller scale. When everything is back to normal, we are looking forward to organising a bigger event to celebrate and promote reading in our schools!”.