Reading is a skill and, as with all skills, it improves with practice. In a class of approximately 30 children, dedicating the deserved amount of time to reading with each child in some cases isn’t achievable, so most reading is carried out at home by parents or guardians. We all lead hectic lives and finding time for this, despite our best intentions, isn’t always possible.
This is what brought about Every Child Our Future, a registered charity, working in collaboration with the States Education Department in Guernsey and Jersey. Their aim is to improve both literacy and numeracy standards on the islands and actively promote a culture in which the community takes responsibility and participates in the education of its children.
Volunteers of the charity since 2012 in Guernsey and 2016 in Jersey, the Group have ‘adopted’ St Mary and St Michael’s School in Guernsey and Samaras School in Jersey. With over 35 volunteers across the two islands, the volunteers take time out to read with the children, ensuring they all have an equal opportunity to practice their reading, not just those who have home support.
“We’ve just finished our second year supporting ECOF and both the teachers and children love having us there. All of the Aztec Group’s staff who give up their time think it is a fantastic cause, especially over the course of the year, as they can see how far the children have progressed.” Hayley Tanguy, Director, Aztec Guernsey.
Helen Shepard, the Head Teacher at St Mary and St Michael’s, truly values the support the Group offers the children. “The volunteers from the Aztec Group offer a huge resource and support base for our younger readers, while also showing our children the importance of generosity of spirit. They not only provide tremendous support and assistance, they reinforce the partnership we work hard to develop with our wider community”.
Thank you to all the children, teachers and teaching assistants involved in this valuable charity. We would also like to offer a special thanks to our volunteers from both the Guernsey and Jersey office.