Teach-Reading-and-Writing-Issue-22

LAST WORDS Victoria Dilly has worked in education for 20 years, initially as a school librarian and then leading national education programmes for organisations such as National Literacy Trust. T he last six months have been a period of change and challenge for me. Not just navigating the steep learning curve of a new role and getting to know my organisation, but also facing head-on the difficult climate in education. With a government Curriculum Review in progress, economic pressure and rising costs, schools supporting increasing numbers of children with SEND and mental-health issues, as well as the ever-increasing attainment gap... at times I have questioned whether I can really make a difference. Despite this, my first six months in post as CEO of the School Library Association have strengthened my belief that school libraries and librarians offer an antidote to many of the challenges schools face. What other place in school holds that magical key to unlocking reading, provides a safe space for those who need it most, supports all types of learners to access the curriculum, inspires the intellect of the most able, provides scaffolding for those who struggle, and has just the right resource to support learning across every subject? The announcement that the government would fund a library in every primary school by the end of 2029 ( tinyurl.com/tp-Library26 ) was amazing news for the sector (there are approximately 2,000 schools that don’t currently have one). The task at hand for the SLA is to ensure that these libraries – and indeed all school libraries – as well as those who work in them, are given the support they need to be sustained. Libraries need ongoing investment of staff, time, money and infrastructure. Books get old, collections need management, and skills need developing if a library is to be truly effective. The benefits are manifold when this happens. Research demonstrates increased reading and learning engagement, better education outcomes across the curriculum, improved wellbeing and social relationships... the list goes on, and shows just what can happen when a school library and its librarian are active parts of the school community. Since starting in this role, I’ve been fortunate to meet many inspiring people working towards the same goals – not least my newly recruited team – and it is exciting to be working together on opportunities to strengthen our impact. As we seek to widen the SLA’s reach, including growing our support for primary schools, I will be working with senior leaders and partners in the sector, as well as utilising my own experience of running primary libraries – sometimes on a tiny budget, with just a few hours a week – to ensure the SLA meets all schools where they are. Not just those with new libraries, but all those with libraries already in place, too. We are at a critical point in education, with the reading crisis having a negative impact on children’s development, and the National Year of Reading campaign in 2026 will offer an opportunity to put reading at the heart of every community. Where better for this to be situated in schools than in the school library, creating sustainable support so that every year can be a year of reading? Through our work, the SLA can help our members positively impact the lives of every child and young person in schools across the country so they can achieve their full potential – and that is why I know that I can make a difference. “School libraries and librarians offer an antidote to many of the challenges schools face” We need our school libraries more than ever, says SLA chief executive Victoria Dilly Magical spaces The SLA is offering Teach Reading & Writing subscribers a 10 per cent discount on annual membership. Find out more about joining at sla.org. uk/join and use code TEACHRW for your discount. 66 | www.teachwire.net