"I had the honour of being invited to open the wonderful new KS2 library at Simpson’s Lane Academy. It, and the school’s other, KS1 library, are fantastic places – packed with brilliant book choices, staffed by enthusiastic pupil-librarians and made warm and welcoming with bean-bags, scatter cushions and vibrant illustrations. Books and stories were in evidence everywhere in the school, from the themed corridor ‘book-nooks’ providing a break-time space for children to curl up with a good book, to the outdoor ‘stages’ encouraging creative story-based play. I loved the idea of the new ‘Starbooks Ambassador’ scheme encouraging children to earn loyalty points for special book rewards through their reading. The passion for reading and recognition of its importance for life chances in an area where sadly there are no longer any public libraries due to funding cuts, was tangible. A very worthy candidate for a Reading for Pleasure Award!"

Ally Sherrick, Simpson's Lane Academy, Knottingley, West Yorkshire