PRE-SCHOOL children welcomed local MP Mel Stride on Friday for National Story Telling Week. Promoted by the National Literacy Trust, the annual event highlights the importance of reading to young children. Studies have shown a long list of benefits associated with young children being read to out loud every day, including improvements in their language skills, better concentration and discipline, healthy brain development and better performance in school.It also ignites their imagination which helps them play with friends â a key part of developing life-long social skills.Pre-School Manager Linda Palmer said: 'We were very pleased to welcome Mel to Chudleigh Pre-School and the children enjoyed the book he read to them as part of National Story Telling Week.

‘It is a great reminder to parents with young children that no matter how busy our lives are, it really is worthwhile finding 10 minutes a day to read them a story or two.’

Mr Stride, who chose to read Jasper’s Beanstalk by Nick Butterworth, said: ‘Our pre-schools, nurseries and childminders have been of vital importance during the pandemic.

‘They played a critical role in looking after vulnerable children and the children of key workers during our national lockdowns and have had to deal with the anxiety and logistical difficulties of caring for young children where social distancing simply hasn’t been possible.

‘It was great to meet such a lovely group of children.’

Chudleigh Pre-school has two sites – one at the Town Hall which Mr Stride visited and the other based at the Primary School, which helps to children transition into their foundation year.

For more information visit www.chudleighpreschool.org.uk.