Help pupils to get the reading bug was the message to schools at the formal launch of a new literacy scheme.

Buster’s Book Club which has been created by the KM’s charity department was launched in front of a packed audience of teaching staff during the annual KM Charity Team Forum.

The scheme sets an individual home reading target based on year group and has reading challenges throughout the year, along with prizes and a record attempt to maintain youngsters’ enthusiasm.

Simon Dolby of the KM Charity Team said: “The reading initiative is proving very effective at involving parents and engaging with pupils, particularly boys. The ten-school pilot exceeded our expectations with more than 500,000 minutes of reading at home achieved by 3,000 pupils.”

He added: “Grants are available to make it easier for schools to take part.”

The Forum included a Buster’s Book Club workshop where literacy leaders could quiz the scheme’s creators and discover how to help families get the reading habit.

The event which also featured sessions on green travel for schools and fundraising support for charities was staged at the Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel and supported by Jelf Insurance with Burgess Hodgson the headline sponsor.

Buster’s Book Club is supported by Kent County Council, Medway Council, Mini Babybel, Specsavers, Orbit South, Golding Homes, Three R’s Teacher Recruitment and Leeds Castle.

To find out more visit www.kmcharityteam.co.uk or contact Mr Dolby at sdolby@thekmgroup.co.uk or 0844 264 0291. Visit the website to sign up for monthly e-newsletters School Link (for schools) or KM Link (for families) to keep up to date on literacy and green travel schemes, competitions and more.