Our school is hosting a new book club for parents in a bid to get more people reading for pleasure.

The ‘Inspiring Parents’ book club – the first of its kind in the Tong and Bowling areas of Bradford – is run jointly by the school, the National Literacy Trust (NLT) and Bradford Libraries.

We are the first school in the area to establish a book club for parents of its pupils, thanks to a donation of books by the NLT’s Bradford Hub.

Each Wednesday morning, from 8.30-10am, parents meet to discuss the books they have read and to pick future titles, with a particular favourite so far being A Thousand Splendid Suns by Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini.

The scheme aims to inspire parents to develop a love of literature, open their minds and imaginations, and to enjoy reading as a fun social activity. By learning about the benefits of reading, questioning and comprehension, it is hoped that the parents’ enjoyment of reading will also help and enthuse their children with their own reading in order to improve their literacy skills, vocabulary, knowledge and imaginations.

Principal Clare Daddy said:

“We want parents to let our children know that once they have learnt to read, no one can take that away from them.

“The response to having the book club was met with great enthusiasm. After looking at the extensive list of books available, the parents positively identified the books they would like to read and are enjoying the literature and the social aspect of getting together each week.”

Dionne Hood from Bradford Library Service said:

“Bradford Libraries oversees and provides books for over 100 book groups in the Bradford area taking place in libraries, private homes, community centres, care homes and schools. A book group is a great way to meet other people, read something you might not usually read and take part in interesting discussions.”

Parents Nasreen Akhtar, Sabina Akhtar, Farzana Hussain, Yasmin Ahmed, Farzana Begum, Shahida Khan and Noreen Akhtar have been meeting each week at a pilot book club scheme