Saturday 19th July saw the start of this year’s Summer Reading Challenge at Brackley Library. The challenge runs every year and encourages primary school children to read 6 books throughout the summer holidays. They can earn stickers along the way, with a medal and certificate at the end. This year the Friends of Brackley Library have a little added gift for children that complete the challenge.

Reading throughout the summer holidays is important. A drop in reading age over the summer holidays, often called the “summer slide” or “summer learning loss,” is a real phenomenon where children can lose some of their reading skills and knowledge during the break. This can manifest as a decline in reading comprehension, vocabulary, and overall fluency. The most concerning thing that’s been spotted since COVID, and especially over the past year, is the drop in the number of children taking part, and more importantly finishing the challenge. 

This year’s theme is “Story Garden” and takes reading to the great outdoors. This lends itself, not only to days out and picnics, but it’s also a chance to sit outside and read with your children. Take them away from the lure of phones, TVs, laptops, iPads and tablets – and get them, and you, into the fresh air and actively read together. 

 So let’s make 2025 the year when we all encourage children to read outside of school. Let’s have more children taking part in the summer challenge and more adults reading with them. The Library will have volunteers who are not only there to help sign children up to the scheme, but also to listen to them read.

As well as the Summer Reading Challenge, there will also be lots of crafts at the Library on a Tuesday afternoon and Thursday morning to keep the children busy during the holidays, so keep your eyes peeled!

Trish Savill
Chair, The Friends of Brackley Library