The Home Reading co-ordinators, Lindsey Fraser and Kathryn Ross, who formerly worked for the Scottish Book Trust, will work with the Executive to develop the scheme over the next three years. Their tasks will include developing a website for parents, devising a CD to encourage parents and children to read together and recruiting and overseeing the work of Reading Champions - people who are publicly working to raise literacy levels.
Currently they include author Mairi Hedderwick, TV presenter Kirsty Wark and Garry Coup- land from 'The Singing Kettle'.
In a statement the co-ordinators said, 'We've always worked on the principle that enjoyment is by far the best incentive for children, so that will be at the heart of this initiative. Parents and carers can do so much to make reading fun and interesting. The various elements of the home reading initiative will show them how enjoyable their role can be too.'
Education minister Cathy Jamieson said introducing children to books at an early age is one of the best gifts an adult can give. She said, 'Reading books is never dull, but some children need more coaxing than others.
'The Home Reading co-ordinators will drive forward the initiative and look for innovative ways to capture the imagination of children and parents alike and show them the pleasure and rewards that can be found by simply reading a book. Sharing a football programme or working through a recipe, for example, may be the route to reading regularly.'
Dorothy McHattie, headteacher at Jessie Porter Nursery School in Dundee, welcomed the initiative and said her setting shared its aims. 'We try very hard to encourage parents to read with their children. We run a lending library in the nursery so children can choose books to take home and share with their parents. This starts in October each year and we introduce the initiative to parents with a leaflet explaining how valuable it is to read with young children.'
She added, 'A recent visit by a WORDS bus (News, 28 November), which the children visited for story sessions, was also a big success. The children are all very enthusiastic and each child will be getting a book from Santa at our Christmas party this week.'
