THE MAGIC of storytime is set to come alive at nurseries across Solihull as staff hope to inspire future readers.
More than 200 children at Busy Bees nurseries are joining the Get the Reading Buzz pledge – an initiative which aims to read over 45million books with children at the nationwide nurseries this year.
The pledge brings together more than 350 Busy Bees nurseries and over 37,000 children across the UK, all aspiring to enjoy at least four books a day, reclaiming storytime as a joyful experience that fosters a love of reading from the very beginning.
The initiative comes after figures show that just one in three children enjoy reading in their free time, and fewer than one in five read daily.
The research published by the Literacy Trust reveals that one in 10 children do not own a book, and only half of parents read with their child each day, down from two-thirds in 2019.
In response to this decline, Busy Bees nurseries across Solihull are embedding reading into every part of the nursery day, with children enjoying up to at least four stories, supported by dedicated story times and book-rich learning environments designed to nurture early literacy skills and a lifelong love of reading.
Jenny Shaw, academic lead researcher and developer at Busy Bees, said: “Every day in our Solihull nurseries, we see how a simple story can capture a child’s curiosity.
“Reading is more than just a moment, it’s a spark that ignites imagination, supports early language development, builds confidence and deepens connections between parent and child.”
To mark the National Year of Reading, Busy Bees has pledged its support for the campaign and partnered with award-winning storyteller and creator of JoJo and Gran Gran, Laura Henry-Allain, to champion the importance of inspiring a love of reading from an early age.
Laura Henry-Allain, ambassador for the National Year of Reading, said: “As an educationalist and storyteller, I have always been extremely passionate about promoting reading for children, especially in their early years.
“It is music to my ears to hear that Busy Bees, as part of their Bee Curious curriculum, have created the four-a-day book challenge, which will have a lasting impact on children’s literacy and help them become readers for life”
