Broom Valley

For the past eighteen months, working in partnership with Inspire Rotherham, the Titans Community Foundation has developed and enhanced its well renowned reading programme.
Inspire Rotherham is a literacy scheme, managed by RMBC with investment from Yorkshire Forward to provide opportunities to raise aspirations and develop innovative, inspirational approaches to building skills and confidence in communication among our young people, families, carers and practitioners across Rotherham.

Since September 2009 Rotherham Titans rugby players have worked with targeted children in the specifically identified schools, visiting each school for one morning a week for 12 weeks.

Richard Finney, Chief Executive of the Foundation commented, “The players really enjoy their time with the boys and girls and it is not just the reading but the conversation and interaction with them that’s important. Inspire Rotherham is a fantastic project and it is great to be part of such a positive initiative that is having a major impact on Literacy throughout the Borough of Rotherham and one important aspect of the programme has seen the Foundation encourage and involve parents, grandparents and carers in continuing the support the reading back at home.”

.... but what happens when the Titans move on from one school to the next?
Well, Broom Valley Community School have come up with the answer.
Using the Titans model, they have introduced their very own 'Reading Buddies' scheme.
Children in Y6 (10 to 11 years old) have time set aside to read with children from Y2 classes (5 to 6 years old). They are now helping their fellow, younger pupils to be better readers and enjoy reading more, by sharing carefully selected stories and books.

“The Titans rugby players have been just fantastic. The children have enjoyed spending time with such positive male role models,” said Carolyn Buckley, Deputy Head Teacher. She continued, “We needed to keep the impetus going .... and using our older pupils gives them a feeling of pride, creates better harmony and develops friendships around the school. Most importantly, the 'Reading Buddies' scheme helps the younger children develop their reading skills. Reading is a fundamental skill that everyone needs throughout their lives and this small step, we believe, will help many children become better readers and give them more confidence across all subjects at school.”

So the Titans certainly have been an inspiration to Broom Valley and the children and teachers there.