SATURDAY, September 8, marked International Literacy Day - an important day which underscores the significant role literacy plays in our upbringing and highlights the challenges that children who struggle with reading and wider literacy skills face.

With children now back to school across Wirral, it's also a critical time for the local team at Beanstalk.

We want to ensure we have enough trained volunteers ready to deliver one-to-one reading support to those pupils who need extra support and encouragement with their reading to prevent them from falling further behind.

New statistics announced by the Department of Education reveal that just over 1,000 primary school leavers in Wirral did not achieve the expected level in reading in the last academic year.

This means that a large proportion of children in the local area are still being left behind without the key literacy skills they need to give them the best possible start in life.

This is shocking and needs to be tackled.

This statistic is at the forefront of our minds as we aim to reach more children with our lifechanging reading programmes than ever before over the next school year.

To help us achieve this, we're appealing for new volunteers in Wirral to come forward to help support children with their reading.

If you can spare a few hours a week please visit beanstalkcharity.org.uk or call 0845 450 0307 to find out more.

Ginny Lunn, Chief executive of Beanstalk (reading charity)