Book Buddies

Book Buddies can work successfully with children to address reading difficulties and boost their reading age. The reading scheme supports the acquisition of good reading skills and is designed to improve the way children read, enabling them to be independent problem-solvers who read with understanding and enjoyment.

Book Buddies is a targeted, time-limited, one-to-one intervention.

Could you be a Reading Volunteer?

We are looking for parents, carers, grandparents, aunts, uncles and other grown-ups to read with our children at Air Balloon Hill.

Do you have any spare time to support children with their reading? We offer full training, support and sometimes tea and biscuits! If you would like to find out more, please contact

Becky Cox – bookbuddies@abhps.com

We will carry out an enhanced DBS check for all volunteers, as it is requirement

Book Buddies has moved to a new, swanky and permanent room. The Book Buddy children and volunteers are chuffed to have a space to read quietly and play book related games. 

Katerina (Volunteer) – “The new room has a positive energy”

Ruby (Book Buddy child) – “Wow! I love it!”

If you are interesting in becoming a Book Buddy volunteer, please contact Miss Cox by email, bookbuddies@abhps.com

Supporting Early Reading at Home

A guide for parents

When supporting your child, the aim is to make reading an enjoyable experience. Consistency is essential if progress is to be made. Try to:

• Practice regularly
• Set aside a specific time for reading
• Read for between 5 and 10 minutes
• Use a comfortable and quiet area
• Make it fun and interesting
• Be encouraging – there is no need to correct every mistake if it still makes sense.

Learning to read is like trying to crack a code. Children should be encouraged to look for different clues to help them understand what they are reading. Learning individual words is important but they are really aiming to work out the whole message.

When you hear your child read, let them hold the book. Encourage them to use the following strategies to solve words:

• Key/Tricky words
• Letter sounds and blends
• Pictures
• Meaning of the text
• Length of the word

It is important not to confuse your child so concentrate on developing a few skills at a time.

REMEMBER to give lots of PRAISE, and be specific!!!

“Well done, you had a go on your own.”

“Good try, but did that make sense?”

“I like how you read that bit again to check it.”

“Well done for using your sounds”

Air Balloon Hill Primary School – Early Years Teachers discussing phonics and reading.

Click the video to find out more about teaching a child to read.