A TOP children’s’ author has been added to the line up of a Bradford charity’s national conference.

Tom Palmer will be joining Reading Matters’ ‘Closing the Literacy Gap’ conference on June 29 at Bradford City football stadium.

The popular locally-based children’s author, who has appeared at the festival before, will deliver a workshop entitled ‘Removing Barriers to Reading’.

Reading Matters, which is based in Bradford and provides mentors that help young people develop a love of reading, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year

Mr Palmer’s workshop is part of the conference’s packed programme which has been created to benefit literacy professionals from across primary and secondary education.

Expert speakers and interactive workshops will provide ideas about ways to help all pupils to achieve their potential and there will be exhibitors and lots of networking opportunities.

Other speakers at this year’s conference include education consultant and writer Matt Bromley, award-winning author Andy Seed, Dr Paula Clarke of the University of Leeds, Deborah Bullivant Director of Grimm & Co, Rachel Van Riel of Opening the Book and Reading Matters together with pupils and teachers from two Bradford schools.

Tickets for the conference cost £100. To book a space, visit readingmatters.org.uk/closing-literacy-gap-conference/