Priti Patel MP encourages school children to participate in Get Witham Reading 2020

Priti Patel, Member of Parliament for Witham, is calling on school children across her Witham constituency to take part in Get Witham Reading on Friday 3 July 2020.

Priti announced in April that her annual reading event would still be taking place this year, despite Covid-19 restrictions, and she is inviting children and young people from across the constituency to participate online. Priti is asking participants to read as many books as possible by Friday 3 July and submit a list of books to her office with a short summary of which was their favourite and why. Alternatively, participants can write a book review or poem and submit them by the same deadline.

This year, all children that take part in Get Witham Reading will receive a certificate of participation and Priti has already received a number of entries from pupils at schools across the constituency, including Kelvedon St. Mary’s Primary Academy, Tiptree Heath Primary School and Maltings Academy.

Priti said: “The best way to support children’s reading development is for them to go to school and I would encourage all children across my constituency who can return to school at this time, to go back. Local schools have done tremendous work on raising literacy standards in recent years.  I am keen to use this year’s Get Witham Reading event to build on their hard work and continue to support and inspire children of all ages to develop a solid literacy foundation and foster a life-long love of reading. This is all the more important for the learning and development of children now that schools have reopened.

“I am delighted to have already received a number of entries and I would encourage more schools and children from across the constituency to take part. We are just over two weeks away from Get Witham Reading 2020 so there is still plenty of time to participate and submit book reviews or poems.”

All entries must be sent via email to [email protected] by Friday 3 July 2020 and must include the child’s full name, age and school.

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