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Dear Parents and Carers,
Strengthening Our Reading Culture: The Importance of Daily Reading
As we continue to build on the fantastic progress seen across the academy this year, we are writing to share how we are further embedding our commitment to literacy. Reading for pleasure is at the very heart of our curriculum; it is the spark that ignites imagination, builds empathy, and fosters a lifelong curiosity about the world.
To ensure this “love of reading” continues to flourish, we are reinforcing our expectation that a reading book remains a compulsory part of every student’s daily school equipment, alongside their pens, rulers, and Chromebooks (fully charged) as an essential tool for learning.
The Impact of Regular Reading
We see the benefits of our students’ reading habits every day in the classroom. By consistently engaging with books, students are not just practicing a skill – they are gaining a significant academic advantage. The data regarding regular reading remains compelling:
- Vocabulary Growth: Students who read for 20 minutes a day encounter nearly 2 million words a year. This consistent exposure allows them to navigate complex exam papers with far greater ease and confidence.
- The Literacy Advantage: Statistics show that students who read for pleasure are significantly more likely to outperform their peers in all subjects, including maths and science, due to enhanced logic and comprehension skills.
- Mental Well-being: Beyond grades, regular reading is proven to reduce stress and improve mental focus, providing students with a vital way to decompress in a busy digital age.
Books and Resources
To support this ongoing culture of reading, students are expected to have a physical book in their bag every day. This can be:
- A personal favourite from home that they are currently enjoying.
- A book borrowed from our well-stocked academy library.
We want every student to find their book – the one they can’t wait to pick up. If your child is ever unsure of what to read next, please encourage them to speak to their form tutor or our academy librarian, Mrs Allen. They are experts at matching students with stories that will capture their imagination and build their confidence.
Accessing the Academy Library
The library remains a vibrant hub within our academy, providing a quiet space for discovery and exploration. It is available to students during the following times:
| Session | Availability |
| Before School | From 8:00 am daily |
| Break & Lunchtime | Open daily |
| After School | Until 4:00 pm (Please note: Closed after school on Wednesdays) |
By ensuring your child has their book with them every day, you are helping us embed a vital habit that empowers them to succeed both academically and personally.
If you would like to explore books with your child at home, to see what interests they have, BookTrust has compiled several lists of books to spark interest for all ages and genres:
https://www.booktrust.org.uk/book-recommendations/booklists/
Daily equipment checks are conducted by your child’s tutor and senior members of the college teams. Failure to bring the correct equipment each day could lead to sanctions in line with our behaviour management policy.
Thank you for your continued partnership in making Leigh Academy Bexley a community of confident, inspired readers.
Yours faithfully,
