Sisters are reading it for themselves

Annabelle, 12, closes her book with a whoop: she just finished reading her first novel!

Two years ago, Annabelle and her sisters, twins Matilda and Grace, 11, hated reading and had fallen far behind their classmates. 

“Annabelle has dyslexia and the twins were born premature and didn’t start talking until they were five,” says their mum Hannah. “They are so close in age, and all have different teachers and completely different learning plans. I’d try to help the girls with their homework, but I really struggled, especially with their reading.”

With three children with complex learning needs and a toddler to care for, Hannah was overwhelmed. When their Learning for Life Coordinator suggested the three sisters join the after-school Learning Club, she seized the chance.

“Since Learning Club, the girls’ reading has improved hugely,” says Hannah. “I know they are getting proper assistance from their volunteer tutors and I also have somewhere to turn for advice to help them learn.” 

And in the words of Grace: “It’s fun”.

To reinforce their new reading skills, each of the girls was also matched with an older student reading buddy, through our student2student program. Their buddy calls them two or three times a week for a relaxed 20-minute reading session.

“I have seen a massive change,” says Hannah. “Their teachers tell me they notice improvement from one week to the next. Without these programs, I think they would be even more delayed. Their confidence with reading would be quite low.”

The sisters are also matched with Learning for Life sponsors who provide financial support to help cover school essentials like uniforms and schoolbooks. This support gives the girls a confidence boost that helps them learn.

Today, Hannah will spot Annabelle, Matilda or Grace reading a book on the lounge. It makes her so happy. She knows having reading skills will give her daughters a much better chance to break the cycle of disadvantage and achieve their dreams. Now Hannah wants to tell the girls’ sponsors:

“Thank you. You have helped hugely, and it has made a massive difference,” she says.