Book clubs and library membership

The Department for Education is inviting proposals from an organisation or consortium to provide support to state-funded schools with key stage 2 pupils on setting up book clubs for key stage 2 pupils and enrolling their year 3 pupils with a public library. The main aims will be to develop pupils’ spoken language, by enabling children to discuss the books they have read in a non-classroom but structured setting, and to develop their love of literature through widespread reading for pleasure. The bid should set out how you intend to set up and deliver a national programme of support to state-funded schools with key stage 2 pupils. This should include two different levels of support: • direct advice and support to targeted schools in greatest need (i.e. with low KS2 reading results) and higher than average numbers of pupils with the Pupil Premium on establishing book clubs and enrolling their year 3 pupils in a public library. We expect between 180 to 250 schools to establish book clubs and enrol pupils in a public library as a result of this direct advice and support by 31 March 2017; and • resources available to all schools on establishing book clubs and enrolling pupils in public libraries. We envisage at least 1,000 schools accessing these resources by 31 March 2017.

The Department has allocated up to £83,300 exclusive of VAT for this contract, the maximum funding available for this work in 2016-17 is £100,000 inclusive of VAT.

Additional information: Email: standards.mailbox@education.gsi.gov.uk. Please include Book clubs and library membership within the subject line.