BOLTON has been given a £336,000 boost to help teachers and parents raise children's standards of reading and writing.

The money will be used to help primary pupils improve their literacy in the classroom and at home.

Most of the cash will be spent helping headteachers who have to make sure the Literacy Hour is up and running in all Bolton primary schools by early next term at the latest.

But £35,000 has been set aside to encourage parents to go back to school and update their skills so they can help their children with their lessons.

This is nearly double the cash awarded to the same scheme last year and will allow the Community Education Service to add a further five courses to their Family Learning Programme.

Grant

Bolton Council will have to match the funding awarded through the Government's Standards Fund.

But education chairman Cllr Don Eastwood said: "This is a real boost for our schools and money on this scale will make a real difference what we can do.

"It is an increase of £30,000 over last year's grant and we welcome the money for schools and for the work with adults which will help them support their children.

"All our schools have now agreed literacy targets and the money will be a vital help for this. "

Cllr Eastwood said feedback from Bolton primary schools shows that children are enjoying and gaining from the new Literacy Hour introduced by the Government.

But he believes backing from home is vital in the drive to raise standards and praised the family learning programme which is also funded through the Single Regeneration Budget.

"It's extremely important for parents to be involved, " he said.

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