Schoolchildren in Herne Bay caught the reading bug at a special launch of a two-year scheme to boost child literacy.

An assembly was held at Briary Primary to celebrate becoming a member of Buster’s Book Club thanks to the support of its local Rotary Club.

Staff and pupils were joined by the scheme’s mascot Buster Bug as well as Herne Bay Rotary Club’s Mary Pole and President Elect Sarah Finnis. The Rotarians also presented the school with Revolution Skatepark vouchers which will go to the first class to be awarded the Reading Class of the Week Trophy.

The Rotary Club is the first in the region to agree long-term funding of Buster’s Book Club, which is run by the KM Charity Team.

Literacy coordinator Kay Devine, of the KM Charity Team, said: “We are delighted to have Briary Primary on board. They are incredibly enthusiastic about the scheme – they’re promoting it throughout the school, they’re getting parents on board, and they’ve already attended two of our training sessions – so they have everything in place to make it a success. And thanks to Rotary they have two years to build on their good work.”

She added: “The beauty of Buster’s is that it turns reading into a competition – so it becomes something fun – and the children encourage each other to do their reading. It’s a great way to entice reluctant readers and help them develop a love of books.”

The scheme sets a series of inter-class and inter-school competitions throughout the year to encourage pupils to meet their home reading targets.

Prizes include tickets to leading leisure attractions, books, and visits from celebrity storytellers such as CBeebies stars Phil ‘Mister Maker’ Gallagher and Joanna Adeyinka-Burford of The Let’s Go Club, as well as Bafta and Golden Globe-winning actress Brenda Blethyn OBE.

Businesses or societies interested in sponsoring a school to take part in Buster’s Book Club should contact Mrs Devine at kdevine@thekmgroup.co.uk or call her on 0844 264 0291.

Organisations supporting the scheme include Gatwick Airport, The Ernest Cook Trust, Little Cheyne Court, Kent Community Foundation, Golding Vision (part of Golding Homes), Orbit, Medway Council, Specsavers, Leeds Castle, Diggerland, Hornby, Wildwood, Rotary, Acorns Read and Grow, Crown Foundation, The Gibbons Trust, Kent County Council, and Westwood Cross.

Visit www.BustersBookClub.co.uk