COWLING pupils are boosting their word power thanks to a range of initiatives including Magnus, the school’s reading dog!

Magnus visited the Gill Lane school and spent a morning listening to youngsters reading stories and facts about everything from volcanoes to animals.

The black Labrador belongs to headteacher Sue Marshall.

Research has shown children will often read to a pet more enthusiastically than to an adult as the pet is just happy to let the child take their time to try out the new words.

In America and Canada, the charity, Reading Education Assistance Dogs (READ), teams libraries, schools and clubs with pets and claims a child’s reluctance to read is quickly replaced by enthusiasm and anticipation.

Mrs Marshall said: “I had heard about the READ programme and wondered if it could really work. Magnus is the perfect reading dog because he has a wonderful nature and is very calm.

“So many children wanted to read to him he could have stayed all week! It was lovely to see the children’s enthusiasm for reading and we hope this will continue at home with children reading to their own pets.”