A PIONEERING scheme enabling inmates at Dartmoor Prison to tell their children bedtime stories is now being supported by Devon County Council.

Working alongside charity 'Storybook Dads', the council's Family Learning Service has designed a six-week-course using 'Story Sacks', aimed at giving prisoners the opportunity to become reading role models and support their children's education.

The 'Story Sack' is a colourful bag full of resources to encourage children and adults to enjoy reading together.

Each sack is based around a children's book and has toys and puppets to help children dramatise the story, games, a CD of the story, activity guide and parent guide.

The course aims to make books fun and bring stories to life while giving imprisoned parents the opportunity to maintain important family ties and facilitate learning for themselves and their children.

The weekly sessions involve choosing and recording bedtime stories for their children and making personalised story sacks complete with accompanying handmade educational games.

County councillor Stuart Barker, cabinet member for adult and community services, said not only did the programme give prisoners the confidence to make reading with their children a combined learning experience, it helped maintain and strengthen vital ties with their families.

'It is well documented that prisoners are less likely to re-offend if good family relationships are maintained throughout their sentence,' he said.

Penny Westlake, family learning locality co-ordinator for Devon County Council, worked with the fathers at Dartmoor Prison.

She said: 'This was a new opportunity to involve dads at the prison in a practical and educational way which benefits their children at home.  

'The Dads made the books come alive with a variety of puppets, phonics, games and numeracy games. The course was very successful and I hope we can work with Storybook Dads again after Christmas.'

One inmate, who has just completed the course, said: 'I didn't realise how important reading with your children was and how much fun a book could be. When I get out I am definitely going to read to my kids more.'

Storybook Dads is a registered charity relying entirely upon charitable contributions. To make a donation and find out more about its work visit http://www.storybookdads.co.uk">www.storybookdads.co.uk