With the majority of schoolchildren asked to continue their education from home, Cheshire East’s ‘Summer Reading Challenge’ is opening earlier and the focus is completely digital.
The annual challenge, which is organised nationally by The Reading Agency, is aimed at children aged 4-11.
This year’s theme is ‘Silly Squad’. An all-new digital website will be launched officially on Friday June 5 with a whole host of fun activities, and the challenge will run right through to September.
Although the council’s library buildings will remain closed until further notice, Cheshire East is encouraging primary and secondary schoolchildren to continue to access its virtual services and e-lending platforms.
Families will be able to find a vast array of virtual ‘super silly’ curated events which will be hosted online, including games, quizzes and many different downloadable activities, all with the intention of entertaining and educating children, who may be feeling extremely self-isolated at this difficult time.
Councillor Mick Warren, cabinet member for communities, said: “The Summer Reading Challenge is something that I know children really engage with, so I am relieved that we are still able to do this virtually.
“Children’s reading levels can drop off a little during the long summer holiday, and of course there is an even greater risk of that being the case this year, with the unavoidably long lay-off there has been from schools.”
Children are being encouraged to read anything that makes them feel happy no matter what the format this year, whether it’s poetry, fiction or non-fiction, a comic or a joke book.
A Cheshire East spokesman said: “This year’s challenge is all the more important, as it will also help to provide a source of vital relief to parents and carers trying to keep younger minds active, especially while they may be struggling themselves.”
The council is encouraging young people and their parents and carers to go to sillysquad.org.uk on June 5 to engage with the many activities available free to everyone.