PUPILS at Cockwood Primary School are now able to use new dictionaries and thesaurus thanks to donation from Rotarians.

The school is a recognised Centre of Excellence for its work developing students’ speaking, listening and communication skills.

But its existing books were becoming dog-eared and town and had reached the end of their useful life.

Step in Dawlish Water Rotary Club which was asked by school head Alison Roper to help provide replacements.

She emphasised that dictionaries are still important in the classroom, helping pupils acquire a broader vocabulary, learn the correct spelling of words, understand the pronunciation and improve reading comprehension.

Rotarian David Lupton and his wife Glyn managed to source 30 dictionaries and thesauruses and presented them to the school.

Dawlish Water Rotary Club President Ed McLaughlin, Youth Chair Stephen Allen and David Lupton were invited by the head to attend the school’s Celebration Assembly to formally hand over the books.

At this assembly, the school pupils entertained the guests with singing and some of them received awards for their work and behaviour.

In formally handing over the books, Ed McLaughlin emphasised that one of Rotary’s key goals is support of education and literacy.

He also said how he personally loved dictionaries and, when young, would often get great pleasure from just reading his dictionary to learn the origins of words and the development of their meanings.