Boys into Books 5-11

What is Boys into Books?

Boys into Books aimed to develop sustainable links between library services and primary schools in England with a focus on improving boys reading for enjoyment. The programme also aimed to introduce a range of reader development activities within schools and facilitate the transfer of skills between library staff and teachers.

The programme was targeted at boys aged 5-11 years and built on the previous Boys into Books 11-14 year old initiative. The programme was funded by DCSF and ran from September 2008 to March 2009.

Evaluation of Boys into Books

This evaluation helped identify the outputs and potential outcomes of the programme but the focus was on the process of implementation to enable an assessment of longer term impacts with regard to learning lessons and taking forward examples of good practice in both design and delivery.

The impact and benefits on the work practices, skills and attitudes of library staff and primary school teachers
The unique contribution of Boys into Books 5-11 to the aims of the Primary curriculum and other strategies
The other outcomes experienced by boys and their families

Key findings from Boys into Books

Curriculum

Boys into Books aligns with Primary Curriculum Review and supports teaching staff to assist children to move from “learning to read” to “reading to learn”.

Positive Outcomes for Boys

Increased confidence when reading, improved group work, communication skills, reading age, self directed reading, exposure to a wider range of reading material and increased visits to the library outside of school

Partnerships

Boys into Books strengthened existing partnerships and built new ones.

Partnership working between School Library Services and Public Library Services added value to the delivery of the programme.
Stronger links established between School Library Services and Public Library Services and other local services eg School Improvement Team and Curriculum Planning and between Public Library Services and schools.
Stronger links established between Schools and Public Library Services in areas where there is no School Library Services. 88% of responding libraries indicated increased level of engagement with schools would continue beyond Boys into Books programme.

Skills

Transfer of skills from reader development staff in libraries has supported CPD of teachers and led to new approaches in schools.
Linking reading activities to boys needs and integrating reading across the curriculum.
Stimulating new, creative approaches to encouraging reading eg peer mentors, reading groups, book competitions, author visits, storytelling sessions and literacy workshops.

Strategic Recommendations

Encourage the development of local reading strategies - building partnerships between schools and libraries to encourage reading at school, in families and at home. Library staff can play a particular role in supporting school reading groups to become established.
Encourage partnerships between schools and library services to add value to curriculum planning and school improvement plans – particularly in schools where the teaching of reading has been identified as an area for improvement by ofsted.
Include a library skills element in initial teacher education.