Nottinghamshire first-team squad members Tom Moores and Ben Kitt took time out from their pre-season preparations to listen to children from Rosslyn Park Primary and Nursery School read excerpts from their favourite books.

The wicketkeeper-batsman and pace bowler lent a hand as year one to five students visited Trent Bridge as a reward for their excellent progress on the Reading Recovery programme.

The children were also treated to a tour of the Pavilion and Long Room by Director of Cricket Mick Newell.

Those on the programme at Aspley-based Rosslyn Park receive one-to-one tuition, typically for 14 or 15 weeks, after which they are able to re-join their main class.

“I work with four children at a time and they have 30 minutes of reading with me every day,” said Rosslyn Park teacher Angela Hollick.

“Four of those currently receiving Reading Recovery have come on the visit and then we chose four children – one each from years two, three, four and five – who have been through it in year one, but are now progressing really well.

“Reading Recovery gives the children that individual tuition that can be lost in a classroom situation and really helps move them along.

“Giving them such a special treat and reward for coming on such a journey in their reading makes a huge difference. Being able to read in a different environment than at school, and to be able to show off their skills, is great for their confidence too.”

Reading Recovery is a national programme across England, having originally been pioneered in Australia, and is also used in the USA and Canada.

It has been in operation for more than 30 years, with millions of students worldwide having benefited.

Kitt said: “I know the importance of reading to everyone in all walks of life, so I was delighted to be able to help out with this.

“I was really impressed with the reading – and the children were also showing Tom and I a dance we might be able to use for a celebration in our next game!

“Hopefully they will have been inspired by their visit to Trent Bridge and will be back for an Outlaws game in the near future.”

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