Volunteers help children's literacy post pandemic
Charity volunteers are listening to children read to help them improve literacy and social skills post-pandemic.
The charity "Schoolreaders" is one of the largest in-school reading charities in England, supporting more than 30,000 children in over 1,600 schools each week.
About 65% of children supported by the charity were negatively impacted by Covid-19 according to its research, with the gap widening between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged pupils.
Amanda Gough, assistant head at King's Gate Primary School in Amesbury, Wiltshire, said teachers across the country are reporting "missed skills" and that volunteer interaction is helping pupils develop.
Louisa Symington has been volunteering at King's Gate Primary School in Amesbury for six months after having a "hunch" that Covid had a "big impact".
Having enjoyed reading to her children Ms Symington said this was one "small way" she could help.
She said: "Books have been a huge influence in my life and my children's, they open a whole world."
Mrs Gough said children not being able to get outside to explore and describe the world around them delayed the development of their phonics skills.
In addition to helping develop literacy skills, Mrs Gough said that volunteer visits have helped children to develop vital social skills.
She said: "All of those early relationships they may have built with the postman who knocks on the door, grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbours, friends potentially didn't happen in lockdown.
"A really important skill is learning to mix with other people.
"For us it's really important somebody completely different (comes to school) for them to build that relationship with."
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