For the past two years The Nest Nursery in Sheffield has joined with children’s book company Usborne to raise money for new books and resources and promote reading with children from the youngest age possible.

The book seller has agreed to ‘match’ some of the money raised by the nursery in the form of donated books.

Elaine Fella Primary school teacher and Usborne partner, said: “The scheme helps children to engage with reading and provides opportunities for them to read in different ways, with different people.”

While nurseries get a certain amount from the council, lack of government funding for early years education and resources has created the need for nurseries and schools in Sheffield to look to fundraising events and independent organisations for help.

Early years education institutions are in severe need of increased funding and resources.

Ms Fella said: “Funding for resources, funding for staffing, funding for everything, you can put that in capital letters.”

Usborne is one of the world’s leading independent book publishers and runs sponsored reads and events for nurseries and schools all around the country free of charge.

All resources are provided to the nursery who then run a reading week where children are sponsored to take part in and if £600 or more is raised Usborne will match this with 60% extra free books.

Nest Nursery manager, Charlotte Draper, said: “It would be nice if the government wanted to put more types of funding into the area of literacy development.”

After a successful event last year, the Nest Nursery has again smashed their £600 target, raising a total of £776 which will go towards expanding the range of books accessible to the children at the Nest.

Miss Draper, said the fundraiser creates a “community feel” across the whole nursery and “helps children develop in all sorts of areas”.

The event provides sponsor forms, reading records and suggested activities to promote early years reading, including reading under a tree, by torch light and in different voices.

Ms Fella said: “The more children read, the more it will extend their writing and imaginations and the way they mature.”

This scheme is accessible at primary and nursery level and more information can be found on the Usborne website at Children’s books for all ages | Usborne | Be Curious