Doodle Den is an after-school programme developed by the Childhood Development Initiative (CDI) that was designed to promote young children’s literacy. Smile School Completion Programme delivered its first Doodle Den in 2012  in conjunction whas St Munchin’s GNS – now Thomond Primary School.  The programme is delivered to 5 and 6 year-old children (Senior Infants class) for 4.5 hours each week. It aimed to improve children’s literacy through targeting the following literacy domains through a balanced literacy framework: writing, text comprehension, phonics, sight vocabulary, independent reading and fluency. It operated throughout the normal school year, over a 32-week period.  The children get to read and  their favourite stories such as the Gruffalo, Room on the Broom, Farmer Duck and lots more!  For more information please check the Childhood Development Initiative’s website http://www.cdi.ie