Our libraries' Story Garden Summer Reading Challenge 2025 encouraged a total of 2,340 children across Thurrock to read over the summer holidays, beating the patricipation figures for 2024.
Story Garden encourages children of all ages to keep reading what they enjoy over the summer which also helps maintain their reading levels for when they return back to school in the autumn.
Congratulations to Kenningtons Primary Academy, which this year won the special Summer Reading Challenge School Shield. Kenningtons had 33% of its pupils complete the challenge.
They beat off strong competition, including from Woodside Academy which has won the shield every year since 2019.
Of those who signed up to this year's Summer Reading Challenge, 1,457 children completed it by reading 6 books or more.
Many children also joined the free summer events in libraries, featuring stories and crafts, and for the babies and toddlers, special summer rhyme times. Those who successfully completed the challenge received a special wooden medal and a certificate in the library. Babies and toddlers who took part received a sticky gold medal and a certificate.
Over 59,000 library items were issued and renewed during July and August and children's books and spoken word made up an amazing 66%-68% of the total issues over the two months.