Tell us a bit about your current libraries tour?

When I became Children’s Laureate one of my priorities was libraries, with all the closures, and one was performance and drama. I hit on the idea of a John O’Groats to Lands End library tour, inviting children to act out stories for me as well as having them participate in my own stories. 

Obviously it attracts media interest, which means I get to speak out against the cuts and closures. Some local authorities seem proud of their library service and are managing, despite the squeeze, to keep libraries open. Others are slashing the number of libraries. The tour has reinforced my awareness that the cuts are piecemeal and some authorities could learn valuable lessons from others.

How can teachers support your campaign to save Britain’s libraries?

The main thing is to use libraries. If you’re near a library take the children regularly, especially when they start school. Also encourage children to take part in the Summer Reading Challenge (summerreadingchallenge.org.uk).

Like the NUT, you’ve called on the Government to scrap its Year 1 phonics screening checks. Why are you against these tests?

I know, as do all the teachers I’ve ever met, that different children learn to read in different ways. Some respond well to phonics, for others ‘look and say’ works, and others kind of learn by osmosis. Some children might not do well in a phonics check but are learning to read perfectly well some other way.

I don’t think we need more tests. Apparently we’re already the most tested country in Europe, and have the highest stress levels and most mental illness among our children. It’s insulting to teachers too. Every teacher is aware of where ‘little Jimmy’ is with his reading. They don’t need this test.

The Government keeps using the word ‘little’ – this is just a ‘little’ check – but schools are still going to be teaching to the test and not doing other things they should be doing. And lots of children who would have learnt to read in their own good time are made to feel like failures. That inferiority complex can follow a child right through primary school.

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