SALLY Hamerton, from Two Mile Hill Primary School in Kingswood has been named 2023 Primary School Librarian of the Year.
When Sally joined the school at the start of 2020, she inherited a library that was under-used and unloved, but with potential. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Sally made an immediate impact. With access to a well-stocked and carefully curated library, coupled with staff aware of the importance of reading for pleasure, reading attainment has increased dramatically. Sally knows that the benefits of reading for pleasure are far-reaching and long-lasting.
She said: “Small changes and projects will have an immediate impact, but long-term changes will only become apparent in ten or twenty years, when our children become adults. My aim is to have confident, self-assured readers, with a sense of self-worth, but also empathy for their community.”
Tom Stack, deputy head of Two Mile Hill Primary said, “Sally’s contribution exemplifies the school’s vision to represent all our children in the books that we read and the curriculum we teach. Two Mile Hill Primary is a better school because of Sally; she has enabled children to develop reading as a habit, a hobby, and a life-long passion.”
Yvonne Lang from the award’s sponsor Authors Abroad said, “Huge congratulations to Sally. This award is very well deserved in the face of stiff competition. Her enthusiasm for reading and dedication to literacy shone through; the children are very lucky to have such a role model in their lives.”