A NEW initiative has been launched to encourage a lifelong love of stories and reading among children and families in Essex.

‘Tell Me A Story’ will cover different classic stories, including Alice in Wonderland and the Wizard of Oz.
Available from 12 June, listeners will be able to hear BBC Essex breakfast show presenter, Sonia Watson, reading the opening chapter from Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel, ‘Little Women’.

The story is about a group of sisters, their life with their mum and how they cope with their father being away at war.

Sonia was filmed reading the story in her radio studio, where she presents the breakfast show every weekday.

The storytelling sessions are aimed at children 11-years-old and younger. A new story will be launched every month on Essex County Council’s YouTube channel. The aim is to help families discover new stories, enjoy old favourites and spend quality time together, reading aloud.

Listening to stories, particularly from a young age, can help children to develop their speech, language and reading skills, as well as expand their vocabulary.

Councillor Sam Journet, Cabinet Member for Education, SEND and Skills, Essex County Council, explains: “Taking time to read stories aloud with your child is incredibly rewarding and research shows it can help improve children’s reading and language skills. We hope our ‘Tell me a story’ sessions will inspire families to make time to share stories and spend quality time together.”

Sonia said: “I am passionate about our county, and the people who live and work here, so it’s truly special to be able to help inspire future generations.”

She continued: “My work on the radio is all about telling stories, so it’s very fitting that I’ve been asked to read one as part of this campaign!”

The initiative is part of the Essex Year of Opportunity. This is a countywide initiative that helps people of all ages get the skills they need for work and education.

The ‘Tell Me A Story’ sessions are led by a range of people from across the county.

Future stories include the Wizard of Oz, The Secret Garden and Alice in Wonderland.

They will be told by a chef at Milsoms, a gardener from Beth Chatto’s Garden among others.

Listening to stories, particularly from a young age, can help children to develop their speech, language and reading skills, as well as expand their vocabulary.

The stories will be available on the Essex County Council’s YouTube channel from 12 June.

To find out more about the Essex Year of Opportunity, visit www.essexyearofopportunity.co.uk/essex-year-opportunity