TEN children from a Newport school are the first in Wales to take part in a UK-wide project designed to boost lives through reading.

Monnow primary school, Bettws, is the first from Wales to get involved in the National Literacy Trust’s national young reader’s programme for families, which is backed by WH Smith.

The five-week programme targets Year 3 pupils – seven-eight year-olds.

Ten children per selected school can take part, making it 250 children from 25 schools in the current programme.

Parents come into school to dicuss the programme and then have the chance to choose a book and read with their children. The children then get to visit a library – in the Monnow primary schoolchildren’s case they are visiting Bettws library and the main library in Newport.

After that, each child gets a £10 voucher to spend on a book or books at WH Smith, and the programme ends with certificate presentation.

“The children also get to choose and keep three books as part of the programme and those taking part have really enjoyed it so far,”

said teacher Sarah Robson.

“The parents have been really enthusiastic too. Weather permitting we’re hoping to end with an outdoor party in our forest school.”