A GROUP of Year 1 children from Hayward's Primary School, Crediton have received awards for completing a

literacy programme run by the Rotary Club of Crediton.

The Starfish programme at Hayward's Primary School in Crediton was established in January 2014 by The Rotary Club of Crediton.

Working closely with the school, the structured, intensive literacy support programme provides a significant boost for young children aged five and six years of age, providing daily one-to-one sessions of approximately 35 minutes over eight weeks, for a term.

On completion of the programme the children receive a "Super Star" award.

Rotary Literacy Specialists each see four children every morning, working closely with their teachers and parents.

Ann Macbeth (President of the Rotary Club of Crediton), Julian Pratt (Rotarian, Rotary Club of Crediton), and Rotary literacy specialists Jo Westcott, Jenny Henriques, and Sue Newman attended a presentation of awards ceremony.

A representative of the Rotary Club of Crediton said: "The children's progress is carefully monitored and sessions are tailored to match each child's individual needs.

"As well as seeing significant progress in the children's reading and writing skills a positive impact is made on their general confidence and focus as learners.

"The partnership with parents in the project makes a considerable difference, and feedback from parents has been extremely positive."

The inspirations for the programme came from the "The Starfish Story" about a man who gently throws washed up starfish back into the sea to save them. "Even though there are thousands he feels that saving even one will make a difference."

The motto of the Rotary Club of Crediton is "Service before Self" – and members of the club and Hayward's School hope to "make that difference to that child."

Nora Parminter