Primary schools are signing up to take part in a new newspaper-inspired reading scheme from Cumbria's leading media organisation.

Schools in Armathwaite and Houghton near Carlisle and St Cuthbert’s Catholic Primary School in Wigton are among the first in north Cumbria to secure their places on the Reading Together 2018 programme.

Elsewhere, St Mary’s RC School in Kells, Whitehaven, and Ormsgill School and St Paul’s CE Junior, both in Barrow, have also applied for the scheme.

Reading Together 2018 is a six-week programme led by the News & Star and its parent company CN Group, together with The News Foundation.

It will start after the February half term, in the week commencing February 19. All schools have been invited to sign up.

They have also received further information about the scheme and how it works.

Reading Together 2018 is aimed at key stage two children – seven to 11-year-olds.

It is also suitable for some who have just moved up into secondary school.

The scheme develops not only their reading and literacy skills but builds an interest and enthusiasm for news.

The scheme also helps children and young people to develop a genuine and long-lasting desire to discover the world around them locally, nationally and internationally.

Created by The News Foundation, Reading Together 2018 is built around an exciting student activity book containing more than 24 fun and educational activities. The activities help to develop a wide range of skills as students explore the people, places and events that shape the exciting world of current events.

Every participating child will receive their very own Reading Together 2018 booklet and a discounted copy of a newspaper from the CN Group stable.

They will be encouraged to take their newspapers home and read it with their parents and carers.

It will cost £2 per child to take part in the programme.

CN Group publishes several weekly titles – The Cumberland News , Times & Star, The Whitehaven News – and daily newspapers News & Star and Barrow-based The Mail.

At the end of the project, which will run until the end of April, each child will receive a personalised certificate of achievement.

CN Group is committed to working with hundreds of schools across the area and through the project aims to help improve reading levels and children’s understanding of the world around them.

The project will familiarise children with reading through newspapers at school and at home with family members.

To get your school involved, send your details via email to george@news-foundation.com and put “CN Group Reading Together 2018 Project” in the subject line.

There is no limit to the number of classes that can register from your school.

In 2016, CN Group and The News Foundation reached more than 1,000 school children across Cumbria with its Reading Passport scheme.

They included Bewcastle School, in Bewcastle north of Brampton, which had just 19 pupils at the time.

Headteacher Georgina Harland said as she introduced the programme: “It is a really good example for the children of reading for a real purpose.

“Reading is something that we’re trying to encourage they do more of at home with their parents, who can get involved with this too.”