Families at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Chippenham have been swapping the morning rush for shared stories, as the school celebrates its Year of Reading with a series of family reading breakfasts.
Parents and carers have been invited into school before lessons begin to enjoy books alongside their children, helping to foster a love of reading in a relaxed and welcoming setting.
Starting at 8am, the breakfast sessions have seen families gather over a cup of coffee while reading together before the school day gets under way.
The initiative is one of several designed to strengthen links between home and school while encouraging children to see books as something to enjoy beyond the classroom.
The school has also opened its library to families on Monday afternoons, giving parents and children the opportunity to browse the shelves together, choose books to read and spend time sharing stories.
Staff say the sessions have helped create a stronger reading culture throughout the school, placing books at the centre of everyday family life.
At St Mary’s, reading for pleasure is a key part of pupils’ learning, with children encouraged to explore new ideas, develop their imaginations and discover the enjoyment that comes from sharing stories with others.
Headteacher Lucy Buckland said the response from families had been overwhelmingly positive.
“Our reading breakfasts have been a wonderful way to bring families into school and share special moments around books.
“It has been fantastic to see parents and carers joining their children, enjoying stories together and helping us build a community where reading is valued and celebrated.”
The initiative is part of the school’s wider commitment to promoting literacy and encouraging reading habits that continue long after pupils leave the classroom.
Helen Taylor, Chief Executive of the Dunstan Catholic Educational Trust, said involving families was an important part of children’s educational success.
“Strong partnerships between schools and families play an important role in helping children thrive.
“Initiatives like these create opportunities for parents and carers to be part of their children’s education, while encouraging a love of reading that can continue well beyond the classroom.”
By opening its doors to families and making reading a shared experience, St Mary’s is showing that sometimes the simplest ideas—books, breakfast and time together—can make a lasting difference to children’s learning and confidence.
