PUPILS and staff at Wallyford Primary School & Nursery will use a “shared love of words” to celebrate diversity and racial equality.

The school has been awarded £18,000 as part of the 2023/24 School Library Improvement Fund (SLIF).

Administered by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) on behalf of the Scottish Government, the fund supports “creative and innovative projects” within the school library sector in Scotland.

A Wonderful World of Words at Wallyford! aims to bring its “growing and diverse community together with a shared love of words to celebrate diversity and promote racial equality”.

The funding will provide digital equipment to promote “inclusivity and accessibility”, subscriptions, a digital library system and books selected by learners and the community to promote “inclusivity and accessibility for all cultures”.

Headteacher Zena Diggle said: “We aim to develop a shared library space at the heart of our school to inspire our learners, their parents, carers and our community to read and talk about a wide range of books, stories, rhyme and authors.

“Working in partnership with East Lothian Works, through focused parental learning opportunities, the World of Words at Wallyford will provide a space where we hope to increase the confidence and capacity of our parents/carers to support their child’s literacy learning.”

'Challenge discrimination'

Jenny Gilruth MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, said: “School libraries play a key role in our efforts to further boost literacy and continue improving attainment, but they are also places where positive values can be developed and celebrated.

“Projects supported by this funding will help young people to understand the harmful consequences of racism and ensure they feel empowered to challenge discrimination.”

Pamela Tulloch, chief executive of SLIC, said: “School libraries play a key role in accelerating education and learning, and ensuring every young person has the chance to fulfil their full potential by enabling access to information and creative opportunities. Involving children and young people, and their families, in defining the school library service creates a flexible space for reflection and conversation where learning and creativity are encouraged in a nurturing environment.”

Available to all state-run nurseries, primary schools and secondary schools with a library, this year’s funding priority was given to applications which focused on supporting anti-racism and racial equality.