This spring term, children across Chester and Ellesmere Port have been taking part in our Reading Passport project.

Schools in our area signed up to do the project, which encourages pupils to discover more about the world around them.

Kingsley St John’s Primary School headteacher Rachel Jones said: “Each week we have been holding a classroom challenge using each newspaper.

“There have been opportunities to locate stories by reading headlines, skimming articles and scanning for key words.

“There have also been opportunities to find two articles that are linked by a theme and the children need to comment on how they are similar and how they are different.

“At first I noticed that the children took a long time to locate key information in the article and they expected it to be easy. The importance of completing this project has been in the higher level reading skills that have developed over the five week programme.

“It has also developed their awareness of the local area and key issues that are taking place in their location.

“This week the children read their newspaper and using post it notes identified three key articles that captured their interest and then took notes to share with the other learners in the class.

“This has developed key speaking and listening skills, note making, reasoning, using evidence within the text to explain their reasoning.

“It has been a very worthwhile project. Thank you.”

The Reading Passport is developed by CMC International and The News Foundation.

Year 4 pupils at Tarporley CE Primary School have also been taking part in the challenge.

Class teacher Kerry Griffiths said: “The children have really been inspired to read the newspaper as it's all about local people and places they can relate to.

“We have picked out history articles, like the nostalgia item about Tarporley Memorial Hospital, as well as finding topical issues to discuss, such as the parish council meeting about the proposed housing development in the village.

“It is a fantastic starting point for learning across the curriculum.”

Bickerton Primary School pupils thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the Reading Passport.

Georgie Jones said: “I never used to read the newspaper but since starting this project I do, and I have learned lots!”

Danny Mosford added: “I love reading the paper just like my dad!”

Other schools that took part were: William Stockton Primary School, Tilston Parochial CE Primary School, Guilden Sutton CE Primary School, Chester Bluecoat CE Primary School and Parklands Community Primary School.