PRIMARY pupils and nursery kids in Greenock are opening a fresh chapter in their education by taking part in an innovative new reading challenge.

Boys and girls in P6 at All Saints have been paired up with wee ones in Blairmore Nursery next door to get stuck into books, helping them to prepare them for the step up to P1.

A total of 24 young people – 12 each from the nursery and the primary – took part in an initial six-week run of the the ‘Book Buddies’ scheme, but it has proved so popular that another group are now taking part.

Jacqui Jack, Blairmore’s family support worker, said: said: “It’s been good for the nursery and the school to collaborate so closely together.

“The children have enjoyed it and their parents said they have loved it as well.

“The whole idea was about children getting to know their buddy in a comfortable environment, building relationships and promoting literacy.

“P6s who weren’t confident readers have become confident readers from reading a lot. The children get so excited.

“It’s such a simple project but it helps with lots of different areas, including self-esteem, literacy and leadership.”

The group meets once a week with the primary pupils reading to the younger pupils.

They can choose from a selection of books from the pop-up library and many have now caught the reading bug.

The project has been backed by Inverclyde Libraries and outreach librarian Ally Nolan, and funded through the Scottish attainment challenge.

Ally said: “Above all else, it promotes reading for pleasure.

“It was initially a six-week programme but we’re rolling it out for another six weeks to another 24 pupils because it went really well and we had brilliant, positive feedback from the P6s.

“Their reading has improved immensely, as has their confidence, they’re continuing to borrow from the pop-up library, which has been well-used, and they’re now members of the library.

“They will also now be a buddy for the children when they go to primary school.”