Members of the Rotary Club of the Weald of Kent have presented five ‘Tonies’ musical storyboxes and talking books to Aspire Federation, a group of four small rural primary schools: Kingswood, Leeds & Broomfield, Platts Heath and Ulcombe.
The Tonies come with colourful models of childrens’ favourite book characters which, when placed on the speaker box bring songs and stories to life.
Annie Allum (Aspire Chair of Governors) and Fiona Steer (Head of School) say, “Covid has done more damage to primary school children than anyone really fully understands. Following on from the pandemic we need to work on gaps in our childrens’ primary education and particularly the very youngest with reading and phonics so these Tonies will make a huge difference to our early years children. We also have many children who have had to be gradually reintroduced to school, who need extra support and quiet time away from full classroom noisy activities. The Tonie speakers will be used in our quiet/ reflection areas as they are talking books which is a wonderful way to re-engage and enthuse children back into reading. It also allows them to gain confidence in a quiet time as their reading skills improve and develops their enthusiasm so they want to improve their reading.”
Chris Jesson, chairman of the Service Projects committee of Weald of Kent Rotary Club said, “This is the sort of thing that Rotary is good at, identifying a local need and helping out”.
After meeting pupils from Leeds & Broomfield CE School, the Rotarians were given a tour of the school including the break-out quiet space where one of the Tonies will be used.