Words Count in North Lincolnshire

Find out how we are increasing the levels of literacy in North Lincolnshire and how to become a reading champion.

Increasing levels of literacy

Words Count aims to increase levels of literacy (reading and writing) for all our communities in North Lincolnshire. Latest research shows that children who can read well by the age of 11 discover a wider range of interests and knowledge, creativity and confidence.

Literacy influences everyone in all areas of life. Low literacy in the UK affects people’s chances of getting a job and looking after their health and wellbeing. For more information visit the National Literacy Trust website.

Volunteer to be a reading champion

Could you volunteer to help inspire a love of books in children across North Lincolnshire? The Reading Champion programme is a community partnership to support children’s reading skills.

If you can spare an hour a week to volunteer in a North Lincolnshire school, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us to register your interest.

Some of our projects

Year 5 and Year 9 Reading Mentor Training delivered in schools across North Lincolnshire

Some pupils from Year 5 in primary and junior and Year 9 in secondary are being trained up to support Year 3’s and Year 7’s with their reading.

This initiative has been running for over 8 years. Schools express an interest and Sarah Tipler- senior Development Officer goes into school to deliver the training to pupils. The training introduces a structured session with resources to support covering, importance of building friendships, book choice, book talk, vocabulary development, reading comprehension and confidence. The underlying theme of pleasure for reading and enjoyment is threaded throughout the sessions. If you would like further information, please get in touch wordscount@northlincs.gov.uk

Words Count Fire Fighter Reading Champions in primary schools across North Lincolnshire

North Lincolnshire’s Words Count: celebrating eight years of firefighters championing reading with local schools.

An innovative literacy project between North Lincolnshire Council’s Words Count team, firefighters from Humberside Fire and Rescue Service and local schools, is currently coming up to its ninth year of delivery.

The project began in January 2017 after firefighters from Green Watch and White Watch Scunthorpe Fire Station were trained to become reading champions in schools by the Words Count team, which aims to increase literacy levels for all communities in North Lincolnshire.

Furthermore, Green Watch in Immingham have been trained to take part in the scheme. With Immingham East Green Watch supporting schools Killingholme Primary and East Halton Primary recently.

In the past eight years, the firefighters have supported children at 24 schools across North Lincolnshire. The project aims to support pupil’s attainment in reading, reading for pleasure, reading comprehension, children’s communication and listening skills, confidence and self-esteem, develop aspirations and experience positive role models within the community.

It is hoped that reluctant readers become engaged in books and words and start to enjoy reading for pleasure from listening to inspirational role models. At the end of each session, the children and firefighters play games that support reading, maths and building relationships.

In addition to encouraging reading, the firefighters also take the opportunity to discuss their role in the community and promote important safety messages.

Reading Together Event and Parent Reading Workshops

Parent Reading Workshops are delivered in schools across North Lincolnshire sharing the importance of reading with your child. Discussing why it supports their life chances, future job prospects, wellbeing and overall happiness. The parent reading workshop can be delivered as a stand-alone event for KS1 and KS2 parents or with a Reading Together event.

As part of the Reading Together Event a story is shared with the children and their visiting parents to the school and the story brought to life with fun filled activities for all to join in, with delivered by the Community and Family Engagement team.

Scunthorpe United Reading Stars 10-year anniversary in 2026 kicked off in November 2025 with five secondary schools and two primary and one junior school

Both the stadium and the theme of football are exploited to raise aspirations of learners in a non-traditional environment through inspirational outreach work in a professional sports environment intended to motivate people and provide them with experiences to support their learning and wellbeing.

To date 64 schools and 960 pupils have taken part in the project. The programme consists of each school selecting a cohort of around 15 learners from years 4, 5, 7 or 8 to access the programme. Resources provided by the programme include lesson ideas, activity books, certificates, posters, football themed book, medals and more. The model proposed is that schools embark on an enhanced programme linking literacy to football. The approved project has developed over the years and now consists of 7 core strands.

Strand one– Author visit from Tom Palmer who launches the event with his football quiz, and we bring the book Ghost Stadium alive at Glanford Park- pupils interview football players and take part in a penalty shoot-out. There is also a rap/poetry half day session where Breis performs some of his amazing rap then supports the pupils in creating and performing their own. Each pupil receives their own copy of Ghost stadium too.

Strand two– in school book club- resources are shared to support the set up of the in school sessions.

Strand three– Two half day visits to the Study United Centre at Glanford Park where transport will be provided. Pupils will learn questioning techniques and watch clips of good/poor interviews and begin to write questions to ask SUFC football players in front of the green screen technology, reading from an autocue.

Strand four– Visit to the school from Brian Laws ex player/manager who engages the pupils with a Q&A and a dream team game.

Strand five– Parent reading workshop delivered by the Community and Family engagement team to parents in school at a time to suit and can involve all parents.

Strand six– A 6 a side football tournament between the schools involved.

Strand seven– A coaching session led by a SUFC footballer and a talk about his dyslexia and overcoming challenges.

Strand eight– Graduation for the pupils and their families at Glanford Park.

If you would like further information, please get in touch wordscount@northlincs.gov.uk

Further information

Contact

wordscount@northlincs.gov.uk 

01724 297000