A SUCCESSFUL newspaper-inspired reading scheme from The Cumberland News is making a return.

Reading Together 2018 is a six-week programme led by The Cumberland News and its parent company CN Group, together with The News Foundation.

Primary schools are now invited to sign up to take part in the reading scheme which will start after the February half term.

With limited places, a number of schools have already moved quickly to secure their part in the programme.

All schools have been sent an invitation and further information about the scheme and how it works.

Reading Together 2018 is aimed at key stage two children - seven to 11-year-olds.

It is also suitable for some who have just moved up into secondary school.

It develops not only their reading and literacy skills but builds an interest and enthusiasm for news.

The scheme also helps children to develop a genuine and long-lasting desire to discover the world around them locally, nationally and internationally.

Created by The News Foundation, Reading Together 2018 is a six-week project built around an exciting student activity book containing more than 24 fun and educational activities.

The activities help to develop a wide range of skills as students explore the people, places and events that shape the exciting world of current events.

Every participating child will receive their very own Reading Together 2018 booklet and a discounted copy of a newspaper from the CN Group stable.

They will be encouraged to take their newspapers home and read it with their parents and carers.

CN Group will provide newspapers to schools at a dramatically reduced price. They will be delivered to schools once a week for six weeks at a total cost of only £2 per child for the entire project.

CN Group publishes several weekly titles - The Cumberland News, Times & Star, The Whitehaven News - and daily newspapers News & Star and Barrow-based The Mail .

At the end of the project, which will run until the end of April, each child will receive a personalised certificate of achievement.

CN Group is committed to working with hundreds of schools across the area and through the project aims to help improve reading levels and children's understanding of the world around them.

The project will familiarise children with reading through newspapers at school and at home with family members.

To get your school involved, send your details via email to george@news-foundation.com and put "CN Group Reading Together 2018 Project" in the subject line.

There is no limit to the number of classes that can register from your school.

In 2016, CN Group and The News Foundation reached more than 1,000 school children across Cumbria with its Reading Passport scheme.

Cummersdale headteacher Gareth Jones was keen to use the Reading Passport initiative into his school, having completed a similar project when he was a pupil.

He focussed efforts on pupils in years three and four when he introduced the Reading Passport scheme in late 2016.

Then, he said: "For some it is the first time they will have shown an interest in the news and sometimes they’ve asked awkward questions about some of the coverage they’ve seen.

"We also asked them where they could find news and they mentioned everything from football websites and radio to sandwich boards. A lot of pupils here listen to the news in their cars too."

Pupils at Cummersdale School explored different parts of local newspapers, from front page news splashes to sport coverage.

They also made some interesting discoveries.

"None of them knew what star signs were," said Mr Jones, "so when they asked we then had the chance to explore what they are and find out what start signs they all are."