A PRIMARY school is first class when it comes to encouraging its youngsters to read.

St Peter's CE Primary School in Farnworth is celebrating being University College London's Institute of Education Reading Recovery School of the Year.

This is the second year on the run it has been recognised for its efforts in turning children into young bookworms, who are sharing their love of books with parents.

The Reading Recovery Awards are to celebrate and honour those "who have made an outstanding contribution to children's literacy" and how projects have raised standards of literacy in school.

Reading Recovery is an accredited school-based literacy programme for the youngsters to help them to reach age-expected levels within 20 weeks. It involves a short series of one-to-one lessons for 30 minutes every day with a specially trained teacher.

The school believes that reading opens up doors to success — and its results seem to suggest it, with 87 per cent of pupils passed the screening test, compared to 81 per cent nationally.

Lynn Williams, headteacher, says that reading is a high priority at the school and parents are encouraged to get involved by reading with them and commenting in pupils' reading records.

Now there is a book club in school where parents can come and read with their children before "the hustle and bustle of home life takes over at the end of the day".

Mrs Williams said: "The mantra of the reading recovery programme is 'Every Child a Reader'.

"This philosophy entirely fits the belief that we hold at St Peter's that all learning is limitless and all children are capable learners.

"Regardless of their starting point, we expect that all children who enter the doors of St Peter's will grow to know and understand more through each day they spend with us.

"The school achieved the reading recovery award for the second year running on the basis of the strong provision for reading and the outcomes we achieve."

In July representatives from the school will attend a special ceremony at the institute of education to celebrate the success.