A new chapter for Donington on Bain Primary School

Children at Donington on Bain Primary School have turned over a new page in their reading journey as they celebrate the opening of their brand-new school library, The Nook.

L to R: Head Mrs Louise Anyan, Head of English and Class 3 Teacher Mrs Jenna Bollan, Chair of Governors Mr Steve Woodcock, Administrator Mrs Jo Jenkinson - official opening of the school's new library | DOB School

placeholder image — L to R: Head Mrs Louise Anyan, Head of English and Class 3 Teacher Mrs Jenna Bollan, Chair of Governors Mr Steve Woodcock, Administrator Mrs Jo Jenkinson - official opening of the school's new library | DOB School

Over the past few weeks, staff have been busy transforming a former mobile classroom, situated alongside the main school building, into a welcoming and inspiring reading space for pupils from Reception through to Year 6 thanks to funds raised by the Friends of Donington on Bain School.

From assembling bookshelves and redecorating to stocking the shelves with a wide variety of books, the team have worked hard with other staff members to create a cosy environment where children can discover new stories, explore different genres and develop a lifelong love of reading.

The opening comes during the National Year of Reading 2026, a UK-wide initiative led by the Department for Education and the National Literacy Trust, which aims to reverse the decline in reading for pleasure among children and young people.

With national research indicating that reading enjoyment among children and young people has fallen to just 33%, the school hopes The Nook will play an important role in inspiring its pupils to pick up a book simply for the joy of reading.

Central to the project is the school’s ambition to build a whole-school reading-for-pleasure culture. Pupils will be encouraged to visit The Nook during break times and lunchtimes, giving them the freedom to choose their own books, settle into one of the cosy reading areas and lose themselves in a good story.

Headteacher Louise Anyan said: “The mobile classroom was a space we had identified as somewhere we could make better use of, and transforming it into a library seemed the perfect solution.

“I am very grateful to Head of English Jenna Bollan who suggested converting it into a library and with the help of former librarian, Administrator Jo Jenkinson we have created somewhere special for the children, away from the classroom, where they can explore stories, discover new interests and let their imaginations flourish.

“Reading is such an important part of a child’s development, and we hope The Nook will help nurture not only fluency and expression, but also a genuine love of books that stays with our pupils long after they leave us.”

The opening of The Nook marks another exciting chapter for Donington on Bain Primary School as it continues to invest in opportunities that enrich pupils’ learning, inspire curiosity and give every child the best possible start in life.