TWO campaigns to improve reading standards among schoolchildren are running well side-by-side, according to education officials.

Oxfordshire County Council’s is running a reading campaign while Oxford City Council has its own numeracy and literacy intervention project, run by consultancy KRM.

Concerns were initially raised that potential confusion between the two campaigns may lead to doubling up, or result in some schools being left out altogether.

But in an update given to the county council’s children’s services scrutiny committee yesterday, education director Frances Craven said she was working closely with the city council.

She said: “I’m working very closely with them to ensure schools understand the relationship between the two projects.

“My understanding is a number of city schools have been offered both projects, and we’re making sure these schools are actively encouraged to sign up to one or other of them.”

Labour city and county councillor Val Smith said: “As you know, I didn’t think it was a good idea to have two competing schemes but it seems they’re working well together which is really good.”

The Oxfordshire Reading Campaign, run by the county council and backed by the Oxford Mail, involves extra training for staff and getting volunteers into schools to read with children.

The city’s numeracy and literacy intervention project focuses on schools in more deprived areas of Oxford.