Schools involved in Buster’s Book Club have been rewarded for their efforts in getting pupils excited about home reading.

Members of staff were presented with Literacy Mark awards in recognition of their work over the past 12 months in successfully implementing the KM reading scheme. They were congratulated by supporters including Circle Housing Russet, Kent County Council (KCC), Orbit South, Bel UK, Specsavers, Medway Council and Three R’s Teacher Recruitment.

The celebration event was staged at the KM Charity Team Forum held at Lower Grange Farm, Maidstone and was followed by a series of workshops for the education sector.

Buster’s Book Club was created by the charity department at the KM Group with the support of KCC. Following a successful pilot in 2014 the scheme launched Kent-wide this year with 40 schools and 10,000 pupils taking part. By the summer, the children had achieved more than two million minutes of reading.

The initiative sets pupils an individual home reading target and a series of reading challenges throughout the year culminating in an annual record attempt. Children are rewarded with incentives and prizes including readers of the week trophies, tickets to Leeds Castle or Silver Blades ice rink, and storytelling visits.

Other organisations championing the literacy scheme include Golding Vision (part of Golding Homes) and Leeds Castle.

Simon Dolby of the KM Charity Team said: “I’m delighted these schools have enjoyed such great success with Buster’s Book Club helping to improve children’s reading and fostering a love of books. Their hard work and dedication to literacy is an inspiration.”

Click here to view photographs of the event.

Schools have until Thursday, December 17 to register for Buster’s Book Club and have the proven literacy initiative in place for January 2016.

To register, visit www.bustersbookclub.co.uk or email Simon Dolby at sdolby@thekmgroup.co.uk or call 0844 264 0291.

Schools awarded Literacy Mark awards

Maidstone: Archbishop Courtenay CE Primary School, Tree Tops Primary Academy. Ashford: Godinton Primary School. Canterbury: Westmeads Community Infant School, Whitstable. Thanet: Salmestone Primary School, Margate. Folkestone: Castle Hill Community Primary School; The Churchill School. Medway: Bradfields Academy, Chatham; St Michael’s RC Primary School, Chatham; Walderslade Primary School.