PUPILS at an Ivybridge primary school are to benefit from a new and challenging reading scheme designed in-house by teachers and library staff.

The Stowford Book Track challenges pupils to read 50 books, aiming to encourage children to experience different authors and genres and broaden their literary taste and appreciation.

But while children can choose the majority of the books they read, every fifth book has to be picked from a specially selected, age-graded range of books.

Once they have read one of these ‘challenge’ books, pupils will get the chance to discuss it with one of the school’s librarians, before being awarded a stamp in their tracking books.

The Book Track has been designed by Year 2 teacher Lucy Burrows and teaching assistant Jenny Medland, who also runs the school library.

Jenny said: ‘It has taken some time to complete the project and ensure that we made it challenging and appealing, but the response in our official launch assembly was amazing, and it was clear that children right across the school are excited about it.

‘The great thing is that because we have made the challenge books year group specific, children can complete it every year if they wish it and continue to develop and extend their reading throughout their entire time at the school.

‘The librarians have been heavily involved in the project since September, helping to ensure it will run smoothly and they can’t wait to get started.’