A project to encourage parents to read to their children and share a love of books has been hailed a success.

The Little Listeners: Big Readers scheme, run at Deansbrook Infants School and Brunswick Park Primary School, inspires parents to read to their children at home.

With eight workshops in each school, each session focuses on a specific book, which is read as a group in the session and explored through music and games.

At the end of each session, families can borrow the focus book from the library and take it home to re-read during the week.

Julia Davies, a nursery teacher at Deansbrook School, said: “Little listeners has been very successful in supporting our nursery parents by showing them ways to develop their child's early reading skills and appreciation of books.

"The sessions are well planned using a different book each week and resources linked to each story. The children are keen to attend the sessions and enjoy participating in activities linked to the book.”