The Marner Reading Challenge aims to inspire every child to develop a love of reading by engaging regularly with books at home. Families are encouraged to come into the school, where we open up our library for parents to sit and read with their children and also encourage visits to our local library (ideas store). As part of the challenge, all children are provided with a core book list featuring a carefully selected range of high-quality texts. These books are chosen to be engaging, accessible and enjoyable, allowing children to explore a variety of authors, genres and themes. Each reading challenge highlights particular authors and illustrators. Our first challenge included a focus on illustrator 'Dapo Adeola' and author 'Onjali Q. Raúf', giving children the opportunity to engage with diverse voices, styles and perspectives while developing an appreciation of both illustration and storytelling.

Once children have completed the challenge and read all the books on the list, they create a Reading River poster to reflect on and celebrate their reading journey. From these completed challenges, winners are selected in each phase. Winners are rewarded with a visit to Foyles, Westfield, where they are given the opportunity to choose and purchase their own book, funded through the school’s reading budget. This reward reinforces the value placed on reading for pleasure and empowers children to take ownership of their reading choices.

Our latest iteration of the Reading Challenge features carefully curated book categories designed to engage children with a wide variety of texts and perspectives.