By Chris Wearmouth 
The Coronavirus lockdowns are meaning that more and more schooling is being done at home. But parents, guardians, grandparents and older siblings may not have the confidence or knowledge to be able to teach younger children in their household how to read, or to support and develop the child’s reading.
Coventry Rugby and Charter Savings Bank have been delivering Rugby and Reading in primary schools across Coventry, Warwickshire and the West Midlands for some time, and now they have worked with one of the country’s leading experts in this area to put together this home programme to help families bridge the gap and give their children the support they need.
Rugby and Reading: Home Edition includes a straightforward guide for parents, grandparents and support bubbles which includes advice on active listening, the type of reading material and how sessions can be structured to create an environment where a child’s reading can come on in leaps and bounds.
CLICK HERE to download the FREE guide for parents and support bubbles
Meanwhile Coventry Rugby first teamer Dan Lewis has put together a video demonstrating some rugby-based fun games and activities which parents and their children can do together at home or outside throughout the year.
The Coventry Rugby Foundation has also announced the launch of a new book bank, which will see donations of books distributed to local schools to loan to disadvantaged youngsters. Anyone who would like to donate books and reading materials for youngsters aged between 6 and 13 can do so at Butts Park between 1:00pm and 4:00pm on any Wednesday between January 27th and February 10th, when the community coaches will be running Nelly’s RFC Mixed Ability Rugby sessions. Books will be distributed for the February half-term.
“Rugby and Reading is one of our most popular schools programmes across Coventry, Warwickshire and the West Midlands and it has been frustrating that we’ve not been able to deliver it during the pandemic,” says Coventry Rugby Foundation manager, Hal Sparke.
“This is why we’ve launched Rugby and Reading: Home Edition, to help give parents and support bubbles more confidence when it comes to helping their children improve their reading, and I’d like to thank the experts we’ve worked with in putting the programme and advice together, and donating their time.
“We’re also delighted to be announcing the book bank, and hopefully our supporters will continue their fantastic backing of our initiatives and projects.
“Charter Savings Bank have been brilliant sponsors of Rugby and Reading, and a massive thank you to them for their continued support throughout the lockdown.”
