Barrow teacher backs calls for more diversity in children books

Laura Reid, Assistant Head Teacher of Ormsgill Nursery and Primary School, says featuring disabled children in books can help break down barriers and reflect real life where one in ten children are disabled.

Disability equality charity Scope released a survey that found one in three disabled people had read a book where a disability was presented negatively.

Laura, the school’s lead for maths and ICT, set up the annual Ormsgill Book Festival to promote reading to primary pupils across Furness.

She said: "I believe that every child should be able to read a book and relate to the characters. I know when I read to our students, I ensure they all feel part of the story and that makes them totally engrossed in that book.

"Our primary school has a high number of SEN students. Many are autistic, with some being non-verbal."

Laura is currently organising the next book festival at Ormsgill School.

She has secured award-winning children’s novelists Frank Cottrell Boyce and Jennifer Killick so far for the event on June 13.