THE SUCCESS of a pilot project which uses poetry as a way of boosting literacy levels among children is positive news.

So far, the Our Stories scheme has been operating in just four schools in our district - but its impact in enhancing reading and writing skills has been dramatic.

At one Bradford school, the percentage of Year 6 pupils writing at the expected level doubled, from 46 per cent to 92 per cent, during the course of the poetry project.

Clearly, the scheme has been able to strike a chord with pupils who had struggled previously to develop a passion for reading and writing.

In that light, the expansion of the project makes perfect sense and is to be welcomed.

The fact the scheme is being made available across the whole district is something that should appeal to schools that are seeking creative ways to inspire their pupils.

It’s well documented that the district has struggled in school performance tables for many years, with poor literacy levels being a major contributory factor.

With this backdrop, it seems wise to embrace a scheme which has the potential to have a significant impact on writing attainment and progress.

There’s no doubt that reading and writing are essential life skills that unlock enjoyment, communication and thinking and, importantly, enable children to have far better employment prospects.

Let’s hope the success enjoyed so far at the four pilot schools can be transferred to many more classrooms across the district in the months and years to come.