Scotland

We hope to pilot Letterbox Club in Scotland in the near future, with the long-term aim of making the programme available to as many looked-after children as possible.

A pilot will give us the opportunity to examine the specific educational needs of looked-after children in Scotland.

The total number of looked-after children in Scotland at 31 July 2011 was 16,171, an increase of two per cent since 31 July 2010. The number of looked-after children has increased every year since 2001 and is at its highest since 1981.

Letterbox Club has worked with two local authorities in Scotland since becoming available as a UK-wide subscription service.

Aberdeenshire and Perth & Kinross participated from 2009-2011 and Aberdeenshire is again signed up for 2012, with 36 children enrolled. Cumbernauld School in North Lanarkshire also took part in 2010.

Perth & Kinross Council's Lifelong Learning Convenor, Councillor Liz Grant said:

Encouraging youngsters to enjoy reading introduces them to a lifelong pleasure. It also plays an important part in raising their attainment, which we as a council have made a key priority.

'It is particularly vital that the attainment and achievement of looked-after youngsters is raised and so the Letterbox Club is a fantastic addition to the other work we are doing to help ensure children and young people in our care have better life chances.