Teachers are rising to the reading challenge...

... what about you?

Corporate / Blog / Teachers are rising to the reading challenge

In the wake of the charity Read for Good’s survey of school libraries in 2021 – which revealed the devastating impact of the pandemic on schools, with 81% lacking a separate budget for reading for pleasure, and reports of decimated library stocks – the Department for Education published a new reading framework and announced additional funding to invest in “resources like library provision”.

It’s no doubt welcome news: ahead of this year’s World Book Day celebrations, the National Literacy Trust’s Annual Literacy Survey showed that the number of children who enjoy reading for pleasure is at its lowest level in 18 years; a decline that’s even more marked among children growing up in poverty.

The challenge remains with educators to inspire a love of books among their students; but luckily there are many teachers rising to it, not least those whose enthusiasm and innovation is rewarded in an annual competition by publisher Farshore.

As these initiatives show, often the smallest steps reap the greatest rewards.

And World Book Day have handily summarised these steps, working with literary experts to identify six simple principles behind encouraging reading for pleasure:

1.     Listening to books being read aloud

2.     Take books home to read

3.     Choose what you want to read

4.     Make time to read

5.     Have fun!

6.     Ask for ideas on what to read next

As this year’s extended World Book Day celebrations continue, it’s more important than ever to recognise the sheer brilliance of a day dedicated to the fun and pleasure of books, and the powerful simplicity of giving every child the opportunity to own a book of their own. But let’s not leave it to the nation’s overstretched teachers – let’s  all of us make a bit more time to read.

Written by Lisa Bywater