Hammond Inspires Premier League Reading Stars Youngsters

- Leicester City midfielder visited Stokes Wood Primary School, Leicester on Monday afternoon 

- Youngsters took part in a number of activities, including a practical session with Dean, in order to improve their reading levels 

- Stokes Wood Primary School Head Teacher Jane Gadsby said pupils enjoyed a really worthwhile exercise 

School children at a Leicestershire primary school were given a helping hand to improve their reading levels on Monday, as Dean Hammond visited Stokes Wood Primary School. 

For the second year running, the Leicester City midfielder became the Club’s ‘Reading Star’ as part of the Premier League Reading Stars project, which the LCFC Community Trust has brought to local schools for the past two seasons. 

The Premier League Reading Stars project runs in partnership with the National Literacy Trust and aims to help thousands of youngsters across the country improve their reading levels with the use of some footballing icons. 

Dean, a father who loves reading to his children, answered a host of questions from Stokes Wood Primary School pupils, who are currently taking part in a 10-week literacy intervention. 

The after-school course is split into two stages – an hour of classroom or library-based learning followed by a hour-long football drill carried out by a one of the Community Trust’s coaches. 

LCFC Community Trust Education Officer Jamie Skinner said: “Premier League Reading Stars is a 10-week reading course which aims to increase levels of attainment within literacy for year groups five to eight at local primary and secondary schools. 

“We combined theory and practical work which tries to use the power of football to engage positively with underachieving students. Reading is a really important life skill. 

“Premier League Reading Stars is actually part of our Premier League schools sports programme, which is currently delivered within local primary schools. We’re looking at expanding Reading Stars locally and within the county. 

“It was fantastic for Dean to come down. He’s a positive role model, so it’s great for young people to be able to look up to him and see that Premier League footballers are readers is truly inspiring.” 

There was also a chance for Dean to carry out some practical learning sessions with the youngsters, before the City star read a chapter from Tom Palmer’s ‘The Scout’. 

Stokes Wood Primary School Head Teacher Jane Gadsby added: “The course started at the beginning of this term. When we spoke to Jamie, it sounded like something that we would really like to take part in. 

“We have children at our school who need that little extra help with their reading. We’re hoping that other local schools see the benefits and do it themselves. 

“They’re given a homework log, a lot of which is about football, and they’re encouraged to read books. They second half of the session sees them practice their footballing skills, so it covers a range of activities. 

"Of course, the children were very excited to see Dean Hammond come down. They were all very keen to ask him a question each. They were all involved in something that was really worthwhile.” 

To learn more about the Premier League Reading Stars project, visit the National Literacy Trust’s website by .