Television celebrity Phil Gallagher has taken time out from presenting the CBeebies hit show Mister Maker to present accolades to schools championing home reading.

The arts and crafts superstar congratulated the winners of the inaugural Buster’s Book Club Awards during a ceremony at Hempstead House Hotel, Sittingbourne. Schools from across Kent and Medway were rewarded for their successful and innovative use of Buster’s Book Club, a home reading scheme devised and run by the KM Charity Team.

Winners included Canterbury schools Hersden Village Primary who took the award for Best Buster’s Information and Display, and Spires Academy who won Best Adaptation of the Scheme.

Lansdown Primary School, Sittingbourne took the prize for Most Consistent Buster’s Book Club Performance; and Best Integration of Buster’s Book Club Across a Whole School went to Chatham-based Bradfields Academy. Dartford Primary Academy clinched the title of Best Buster’s Book Club Team.

Northdown Primary School, Margate were awarded Best Buster's Book Club Innovation in East Kent and crowned Overall Best Buster's Book Club 2017.

Currently 26,000 children at 90 schools use Buster's Book Club each week and they have collectively achieved a record seven million minutes of reading this year.

The scheme is a flagship feature of KM Year of Reading and supported by Kent County Council, Medway Council, Kent Libraries, Three R’s teacher recruitment, Kent Reliance, Specsavers, Bel UK, Orbit housing association, Leeds Castle, and Golding Vision.

Simon Dolby, chief executive of the KM Charity Team, said: “We are delighted to honour these champions for their amazing work using Buster’s Book Club. It is such a fantastic scheme that generates a real buzz in the classroom and gets even the most reluctant readers excited about books – and these schools have found ways to make it even better!”

Schools can try out Buster’s Book Club for free by signing up for a one-class trial. Contact Charli Elvy at celvy@thekmgroup.co.uk or call 0844 264 0291. Alternatively, click HERE to download a brochure and application form.

The Buster's Book Club Awards were part of the prestigious Kent Literacy Awards 2017. To view photographs of the Kent Literacy Awards event, click HERE to visit the KM Charity Team's Event Gallery page.