Patron of Reading
As well as an author, Gareth is the Patron of Reading for several schools across the East Midlands.
What is a Patron of Reading (PoR)?
"A Patron of Reading is a school's special, designated children's author with whom the school forms a personal attachment. The patron might be an author, a poet, a storyteller or an illustrator. Tenure lasts for a minimum of a year, but the exact length is decided mutually between the school and patron."
PoR is not a government-led initiative and has its foundation in the promotion of reading for pleasure.
First mooted by headteacher Tim Redgrave, the idea of having a PoR is to bring another exciting dimension to the school’s quest to create a buzz about books and reading. Everything the patron does is related to helping encourage and develop a reading for pleasure culture in the school: book quizzes, blogs, book recommendations, discussions, plays, poetry bashes, blogs, book trailers and visits. The possibilities are virtually endless.
Please get in touch if you'd like to know more
Patron of Reading Testimonials
Click to find out what schools are saying about Gareth as their PoR.