BRADFORD children have told a literacy conference how a “reading mentor” scheme has boosted their skills.

Today local charity Reading Matters, which is dedicated to improving young people’s literary skills, held its annual conference, with the theme of “closing the literacy gap.”

Among the speakers were pupils from two Bradford schools, Dixons Kings Academy and Bowling Park Primary. Both have taken part in a reading mentors scheme run by the charity that sees older pupils sit in with younger pupils, who may struggle with reading, for regular sessions.

They told the crowd of over 150 teachers and education workers, the project had helped both the younger children and the mentors, boosting confidence and in some cases leading to pupils’ reading levels rising by up to 22 months in a few months.

The mentors help children become more comfortable with reading, as between them they choose the books and decide themes.

The event was held at Bradford City Football Ground, and was one of the main events for the Bradford based charity’s 20th anniversary year.

Matthew Langley, deputy head of Bowling Park, said many of the schools pupils spoke English as a second language, and with a quarter of pupils coming from Eastern European countries. He said: “It is working incredibly well, the pupils involved are making very good progress.”

Maxine Gordon-Jarrett, from Dixons Kings Academy, said: “The students have been very receptive, when they finish the 10 week courses they wanted to continue it even further. You can really see the pupils’ confidence growing.”

The keynote speaker was education consultant and writer Matt Bromley, who delivered a talk on how to close the literacy gap. He told the Telegraph & Argus: “One of the main causes of that gap between the most disadvantaged children and the least disadvantaged is the telling of bedtime stories and being read to by parents from a young age.

“It is not just about teachers, it is involving parents and the whole community in reading more to children.”

Andy Seed, who has written the “silly” series of non-fiction books, said: “The key to getting children reading is changing their attitude to books. A lot of children see books as boring. If you can give them a book that they find funny to read or really enjoy reading.”

Others speakers included Children’s author Tom Palmer.