We recently hosted a special “Drop Everything and Read” (DEAR) session for our Year 4 students. Parents had the unique opportunity to spend genuine, quality time with their children within an academic setting.

It’s a special way to bring families together through the beauty of reading, which helps reinforce our school’s overall message that reading is essential but also rewarding.

Having our students see their parents partake allows them to register reading for pleasure as a normal activity in day-to-day life. This relationship with reading is what St Paul’s Way strives to instil in everyone.

“I always attend DEAR sessions whenever I can. You get to listen to your child and see how the class is progressing.” Said Rupsana, a Year 4 parent who has attended several DEAR time sessions and plans to participate in more in the future.

The chance to read with your child is a great way to strengthen the family bond and play an active part in their academic progression.

Kulshuma, a parent said, “It’s good to see what he does in school, and I think it builds his confidence having me here.”

Some of our students have already adopted the love of reading for pleasure. Year 4 student Nouri said “I like getting to read with my mum, particularly my favourite book which is Matilda”

This is only the beginning of what we are trying to achieve at St Paul’s Way. We have books displayed across the school and new reading materials are provided to our students regularly. Our aim is to have our students develop a lifelong love for reading.

The class teacher, Ms Menhaj said, “The best part is seeing the parents actively involved with their child, working together to improve learning.”

DEAR time is one in a series of vital events that brings together our school values of Community and Aspiration. It’s a rare opportunity to step into your child's academic space and experience their educational progression first-hand.