More Jersey pupils to benefit from charity literacy scheme

More pupils in Jersey are set to benefit from a charity scheme, which aims to improve literacy skills.

Every Child Our Future (ECOF) sees volunteers go into primary schools to read with students aged five to seven, with nearly 400 pupils currently receiving support.

The island's literacy levels are behind the UK with 82% of children in State schools achieving their reading targets, compared to 90% in England.

ECOF started in Guernsey and has now been active in four schools in Jersey for the last term, with four new schools joining the programme recently.

Nearly 300 volunteers are part of the project, which co-founder Nick Kershaw says is already making a difference: "In reading and writing they (the pupils) are catching up and moving ahead.

The vast majority have exceeded the average rate of progress and some have surpassed it by four or five times."