The Chapter One Online Reading Volunteers Programme connects schools and families with volunteers who work for our partner companies. The companies provide funding for the programme as well as giving their staff the opportunity to volunteer with Chapter One during their working week.

- For the whole school year, volunteers are matched with children in Years 1 to 3 who have been identified by their class teacher as needing additional reading support.

- The child and the volunteer enjoy a weekly 30-minute reading session online via the secure Chapter One reading platform. Volunteers use our specialist platform and a phone connection to link to a classroom laptop. There is no video - just audio!

- Our stories and literacy activities are fun and engaging, focusing on phonics, reading fluency, comprehension and expanding vocabulary.

- All Chapter One volunteers receive training, which covers safeguarding, and are required to have an Enhanced DBS (criminal background) check. All children must have parental consent to participate.

Our evaluation and research data demonstrate that Chapter One pupils not only increase reading attainment but also gain in confidence and enjoy reading more!

Sample stories from our platform's different reading levels

As children progress in their reading, the level of complexity in the texts they read increases. There are nine reading levels and each reading level has a different colour with Pink the first level and Purple the final level.

Example story from the first reading level (Pink)

Example mid-level story (Green)

Example story from the last reading level (Purple)

Games and activities on the Chapter One platform

September-November

Children are matched with their volunteers and reading begins!

November-January

Virtual Meet and Greet Events take place between November and January. The children and their volunteers can see each other for the first time and connect outside a reading session. These events are organised by the Chapter One Programme Manager.

June-July

Year-End celebrations take place after May Half-Term, either in-person at school where possible or virtually. It's a chance for the volunteer and the child to celebrate their year of reading together, and the children are presented with an activity book and a Certificate of Reading Success. Both the children and the volunteers really look forward to these events, which are facilitated by the Chapter One Programme Manager alongside the class teacher.