Latest News & Blogs
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How to ensure teachers understand Forces children
Free seminar at Kingston University – March 22nd 2019 Photo credit: Neil Hanna Photography At Reading Force we support Forces families, and draw wider attention to the special circumstances that are part of [...]
Happy New Year and New Reading
Founder of Reading Force, Alison Baverstock, reflects on her long-lasting Forces friendships, the next generation, and a new year’s resolution… We spent New Year with family friends in France. The original friendship, between us and [...]
Christmas for Forces families… and being miles apart
We send books to Forces families all year round to enjoy sharing, whether a family is together at home or separated by deployment or training. But with Christmas fast approaching, we’re especially thinking about families [...]
‘But what do I do with the scrapbook?’ One family’s crafting journey and top tips for scrapbooking
Julie Boyle found out about Reading Force from a post shared on a military wives Facebook page, when her daughter Chloe was not yet two. “I looked and thought that sounds brilliant.” She ordered a [...]
First person (at home)
First man is out and the Oscar predictions are in, mostly for ‘best picture’ and perhaps ‘best leading actor’ for Ryan Gosling, playing the emotionally closed Neil Armstrong. But a wave of sympathy is currently [...]
Books Involving Unlikely Libraries
Hello Reading Force families! I'm Emma, I'm a Pad Brat and school librarian and I write a regular blog here about reading and Forces life. I love libraries! When I was growing up I couldn’t [...]
Back to school we go…
Alison Baverstock founded Reading Force seven years ago. With the launch of our shiny new website and the new school term, Alison reflects on why she started Reading Force…. It’s back to school time all [...]
My Summer Reads
Hello Reading Force families! I'm Emma, I'm a Pad Brat and school librarian and I write a regular blog here about reading and Forces life. The summer holidays are when I really like to get [...]
‘Never assume resilience in Forces children’
Reading Force founder and Director, Dr Alison Baverstock, has written an insightful blog for TES - the key policy publication for education - about Forces children and how they can be better supported by schools. Written [...]
‘You’re all authors’ – Colinton Primary School’s Jeffrold Stories
Children’s author Vivian French launched Reading Force activity at Colinton Primary School, Edinburgh, in March. Vivian, who has written over 300 books, including The Cherry Pie Princess and Robe of Skulls, became an author later [...]
Books Featuring Forces Children
Hello Reading Force families! I'm Emma, I'm a Pad Brat and school librarian and I write a regular blog here about reading and Forces life. Forces life is unique. There are very few other [...]
A life long love for books
We’re delighted to welcome author Amanda Prowse as this month's guest blogger. I grew up in a house without books – apart from The Littlewoods catalogue and a copy of a Haynes car manual! My [...]
‘You’re all authors’ – Colinton Primary School’s Jeffrold Stories
Children’s author Vivian French launched Reading Force activity at Colinton Primary School, Edinburgh, in March. Vivian, who has written over 300 books, including The Cherry Pie Princess and Robe of Skulls, became an author later [...]
Spring & Summer Recommended Reads
Ages 4 to 7 What’s Next Door? by Nicola O’Byrne Interactive book which children step into, as they take part in the story and enter new environments from stormy seas to [...]
Fantastic scrapbooks: be inspired by the Mahoney Family
“We have done scrapbooks for four years now. We love doing them. We usually choose to do them on books which are new to us. We like doing the scrapbooks as it’s a lovely way [...]
Reading Force launch at Colinton Primary School with VIP Vivian French
On Wednesday 7th March Reading Force launched at Colinton Primary School, Edinburgh, with special guest author, Vivian French. Vivian has written 300 children's books, including The Cherry Pie Princess, the Knights in Training [...]
Ben Clubs & Reading Force: The Twits and Ben Elephant!
Ben Club children in RAF High Wycombe were entertained by Storyteller extraordinaire, John Kirk, on 20th February. John told the story of The Twits, by Roald Dahl, in a hugely energetic performance which saw the [...]
New Beginnings
Hello Reading Force families! Im Emma, I'm a Pad Brat and school librarian and I write a regular blog about reading and Forces life. With a New Year comes thoughts of new starts and [...]
Three cheers for Reading Force!
Books are an important part of family life for RAF mum and writer, Susie Buchanan. Susie says books have helped the family through some tough times, so when she heard about Reading Force she [...]
A trip down memory lane – my childhood Army home
Hello Reading Force families! I'm Emma, I'm a Pad Brat and I write blogs for Reading Force about reading and Forces life. Last month I spontaneously decided to visit my old quarter in Wiltshire. The [...]
Children’s illustrator visits North Yorkshire schools
Hello, I’m Annabel Hall, a Service Pupils' Champion in North Yorkshire. The autumn term got off to a great start with the visit of award winning illustrator, Lynne Chapman, and Reading Force staff to two [...]
Annington’s support enables pastoral support in Scotland
We are very pleased to announce that Annington, the owners of the MOD's Married Quarters Estate, is supporting Reading Force for the next three years. James Hopkins, CEO of Annington, says: “We were impressed [...]
Summer holiday reads for all ages
Need some inspiration for books to share during your summer holidays? Read on to discover more… Ages 4 to 7 What the Ladybird Heard on Holiday by Julia Donaldson A brilliant [...]
5 schools and counting
Hello Reading Force families! I'm Emma, I'm a Pad Brat and I will be writing a regular blog about reading and Forces life. I was relatively lucky, I only went to three primary schools, [...]