An awards scheme which celebrates literacy initiatives across Kent, Medway and Bexley schools is now officially open for nominations.

The Kent Literacy Awards are designed to showcase the most creative and inventive methods used to inspire students to improve their reading, writing and speaking skills.

Used to illustrate the initiatives that make a real difference to the success of schools, the awards have a number of the categories open for nomination, including, Most successful program for engaging pupils with English as a second language, Best promotion of reading for pleasure, and Best speaking competition or debating club.

The awards accept nominations from parents, pupils, support staff and management at primary and secondary schools.

Simon Dolby, chief executive at the KM Charity Team which organise the awards, said: “We believe it is vital to commend hard-working school staff for gifting pupils with skills that will render their lives. The ability to read, write, speak and listen confidently opens so many more doors for adulthood.”

The winners will be invited to an awards celebration evening at Hempstead House Hotel, Sittingbourne at the end of June. Organisations supporting the event include AC Goatham and Son, Beanstalk, Golding Homes, Hempstead House, Kent County Council, Kent Libraries, McCabe Ford Williams, Medway Council and Whitefriars.

A summary of all the winning submissions will be published and circulated to every school in the region to help spread best practice across the county.

To submit one or more nominations before the May 1 deadline.

visit www.kentliteracyawards.co.uk

The list of nomination categories in full:

Best Circle Time; Best home reading initiative; Most engaging writing topic; Most effective use of IT to enhance writing; Most effective use of IT to enhance reading; Best initiative to encourage speaking and listening skills; Best use of drama to promote writing, speaking and listening skills; Best use of art or poetry; Most successful programme for engaging pupils with English as second language; Most engaging writing competition or theme; Best use of cross curricular reading opportunities; Best use of cross curricular writing; Best promotion of reading for pleasure; Best School Library; Most inspiring book corner; Most engaging book week theme; Best reward scheme; Best speaking competition or debating club.