Improving literacy is one of the most important targets that can be aimed for in the education of our young people.

It is vital that children leave school as close as possible to the required levels of reading and writing. Without those basic skills, their whole future lives can be thrown into doubt and the opportunities open to them will be strictly limited.

There are many reasons for falling literacy standards – the lack of reading encouragement or books at home, undiagnosed learning issues, or a mere reluctance, traditionally among young boys, to read for pleasure from a young age, a hobby which goes on to sharpen the necessary skills when it comes to time in the classroom.

It is good, therefore, that Bradford has been chosen as one of three pilot areas to benefit from a £200,000 literacy scheme aimed at ensuring children about to make the leap from primary to secondary school are up to scratch.

The change to “big school” can be traumatic and unsettling enough for any child, but those who are behind in their literacy achievements may find it even more difficult to settle into a new school with many more pupils and a greater need for more intensive work.

Hopefully the Booktrust scheme, which plans to hold summer holiday workshops to encourage children to read for pleasure and not see the activity as a chore, will pay dividends.

Booktrust wants volunteers to sign up to help out with these summer sessions, and it is to be hoped they get much interest. There can be few greater pleasures in life than introducing a child to the joy of reading.