Helping Isle of Wight children improve their reading and writing skills is the aim of the Island's new High Sheriff - and she has a plan to do it.

Dawn Haig-Thomas is settling into the role after being sworn-in earlier this month (April).

As with all of those appointed to the position, she has certain aspirations she hopes to achieve by the time she steps aside next year.

Her theme for the year is literacy - something which she says has been "catastrophically" affected by the pandemic.

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She told the Isle of Wight County Press she wants to bring pupils' reading skills up to the stage that they should be at.

"There has been 100 school days lost on the Isle of Wight and UK, of a normal school year of 200 days", Dawn said.

"We can only guess the catastrophic outcome both personally and for society as a whole."

Dawn, who succeeds Kay Marriott as High Sheriff, is working with nationwide charity, School Readers, to put volunteers in Island schools.

Isle of Wight County Press:

Isle of Wight County Press: High Sheriff signs the declaration.High Sheriff signs the declaration. (Image: Isle of Wight County Press)

"Of course we need to vet carefully who go in our schools and School Readers will support the whole recruitment, training and onboarding of all the volunteers", she said.

"Of the 38 primary schools, we're doing a needs assessment at the moment to understand what they need in terms of volunteers."

Dawn isn't afraid to roll up her sleeves and get involved, either.

She told the County Press she will be reading to pupils at her local school, Queensgate Foundation Primary.

"Queensgate is five minutes from home and I've been warmly welcomed by the headmistress there.

"It looks like a super school and I can't wait to get to spend a couple of hours of week with year two."

By next April, when she hands over the baton to someone else, she hopes to have "moved the dial" on literacy rates.

She said: "Only 68 per cent of children moving up to secondary school on the Island are at their chronological reading age.

"That's basically a third that aren't at the reading age they should be at.

"Of course by next April we wouldn't have had a full academic year but I like to think we've out in place a programme that lasts and is sustainable."

She said there is also a role to played by the Island's community.

"Please understand the importance of spending time with the children in your life.

"Even just ten minutes once a week reading with a child and listening to them read will have a significant impact on their ability to read and help them unlock the potential that life has to offer."

Dawn moved to the Island in 2012, alongside her husband Alex, three children and three dogs.