ARCh aims for a county of literate children, confident for life.

ARCh (Assisted Reading for Children in Oxfordshire) is a registered charity which recruits, trains and supports volunteers from the local community to work with children in a primary school on a 1:1 basis, twice a week for the whole academic year, to impart a love of books and reading and developing a valuable mentoring relationship.

Why the community needs this charity

Even in a prosperous area like Oxfordshire there are many children who have trouble reading. Some have lost confidence because they have fallen behind. Some are shy and don't communicate well. Some have missed out on the development of vital skills in early childhood. Some have difficulty concentrating. Some don't speak English at home. Some just need a boost to help them catch up. The children are chosen by their teachers as the ones most in need of help.

Results and outcomes

We ask all schools to complete an evaluation of our service. Of the children we worked with in 2010: 99% improved in performance in reading 99% improved in confidence in reading 99% improved in achievement overall 98% improved in self-confidence/self-esteem 98% improved in attitude to reading. There were also reported improvements in other areas-general attitude, ability to concentrate, communication with adults,ability to listen, communication with peers and written communication.

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