Search powered byGoogle
Peterborough City Council would like to use cookies to store information on your computer, to improve our website. To find out more about how we use cookies see our privacy notice. Please press the agree button if you wish to accept cookies from this site.

Reading buddies

Reading out loud helps to improve the literacy of children and that is why the Reading Buddy Campaign began in Peterborough.  We now have 300 reading buddies in 47 of our schools.

How does it work?

Businesses in Peterborough volunteer staff, who we can train to go into schools for an hour a week to read with children one-to-one.  The scheme has now expanded to include parents and sixth form students who can become reading buddies at any of our participating schools. A reading buddy is not a teacher.

How much time will it take?

If you would like to become a volunteer you will need to take part in one of our training sessions which take about two hours, it won't cost you or your organisation anything. After this you will go into a school for one hour per week during term time for a minimum of six-months. The school that you choose should not be any further away than half an hour each way. During your hour at the school you would read with between 1 and 3 children.

Can anyone be a reading buddy?

Yes, you will need to have an enhanced CRB check done through us at Peterborough City Council.

Do I need to have any qualifications?

No qualifications are required to be a reading buddy but you will need to take part in one of our two hour training sessions beforehand at no cost to you or your organisation. If you are interested you can find out what the people involved in the scheme have to say about it.


The document(s) below appear in Adobe® Acrobat® (PDF) format. In order to view a document you will need to have Acrobat Reader installed. (Those with visual impairments may wish to investigate Access Adobe, which provides tools and information to help make PDF files more accessible). 

Adobe Acrobat logo

PDF file icon  Reading buddies Winter 2009 newsletter now available to download
  (188KB, 2 pages)