Coram Beanstalk’s service is simple yet highly effective. We recruit, train and support volunteers to provide consistent, one-to-one reading support to children aged 3-13 who need our help. Our reading helpers give them the support they need to improve their reading skills, reading ability and confidence. We also provide training to people within the school community who want to help children learn to read for pleasure whilst improving their reading skills. 


The children we help might have fallen behind with their reading, lack confidence, or struggle with their fluency, comprehension or vocabulary.

Our one-to-one reading support changes the child's life: 

  • Improving their reading ability
  • Inspiring confidence in their own ability
  • Increasing their enjoyment of reading

Coram Beanstalk reading helpers are trained to recognise what challenges each child faces and tailor their sessions to support each child.

Each Coram Beanstalk reading helper works with an average of three children and provides consistent support on a weekly basis, for a whole school year. Together, they read, play and talk. With Coram Beanstalk's support the child's approach to reading and learning is often transformed:

  • 97% of schools say that Coram Beanstalk's service saved their staff's valuable time.
  • 96% of schools would recommend Coram Beanstalk to other schools.
  • 94% of schools say that Coram Beanstalk reading helpers enabled them to offer one-to-one support to children that would be difficult to provide otherwise.
  • 98% of schools agreed that their reading helpers helped children to improve their enjoyment of reading.
  • 99% of schools agreed that their reading helpers helped children to improve their confidence.
  • 97% of schools agreed that their reading helpers helped children to improve their attitude to reading.

If you would like to help transform a child's life, you can find out more about becoming a Coram Beanstalk reading helper here.