Essex housebuilder Barratt and David Wilson Homes has donated £150 to Kelvedon St Mary’s C of E Primary Academy to support the purchase of new books in celebration of World Book Day (5th March).
The donation is part of the developer’s ongoing commitment to supporting the communities where it builds new homes, with the school located close to its upcoming Roman Gardens development in Kelvedon, which is set to launch in the summer. The donation from the developer has contributed towards the purchase of a set of 16 copies of the book ‘Tuesday’ by David Wiesner, which was enjoyed by all children from Nursery to Year 6 on World Book Day and means each class can keep a copy to enjoy.
The funds also contributed to topping up the library collection. Victoria Smith, Headteacher at Kelvedon St Mary’s C of E Primary Academy, said: “We are very grateful for this generous donation, which has enabled us to immerse pupils in a shared text and place a real focus on celebrating a love of stories on World Book Day.
“As part of our celebrations, we all came to school dressed as a word, helping to further immerse ourselves in the world of books, language and storytelling. At Kelvedon St Mary’s, we place great importance on reading for pleasure and ensuring our children experience the joy and richness of stories every day.”
Each year, World Book Day encourages children of all ages to discover the joy of reading through a variety of activities, from dressing up as favourite literary characters to taking part in storytelling sessions and book-themed events. The celebration also sees millions of £1 book tokens distributed to children nationwide, enabling them to choose a book of their own to keep.
Tom Wright, Managing Director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes Eastern Counties, said: “We’re proud to support Kelvedon St Mary’s C of E Primary Academy as it celebrates World Book Day this year.
“Reading plays such an important role in children’s development, helping to spark imagination and build confidence from an early age. As we prepare to launch our Roman Gardens development in Kelvedon, we’re committed to making a positive contribution to the local community and initiatives like this are a great way to do just that.”
Celebrated annually in more than 100 countries around the world, World Book Day was first established by UNESCO in 1995 to promote reading for pleasure, publishing, and copyright. In the UK and Ireland, the initiative is run by the charity World Book Day, which works with schools, publishers, booksellers and families to ensure every child has access to books and the opportunity to develop a lifelong love of reading.