A BookTrust programme that has helped 2 million secondary school children to unleash the power of reading for pleasure is being rolled out to primary schools for the first time.
Bookbuzz Primary, a new programme of expertly curated books and grab-and-go resources for Key Stage 2, launches this week. It has been developed by BookTrust, the UK’s largest children’s reading charity, to help pupils discover the transformative power of reading for pleasure.
BookTrust research shows that children’s reading enjoyment declines as they progress through primary school. While 33% of seven-year-olds say they love reading, this drops to 25% by age 11.
Meanwhile, nearly two-thirds (63%) of Key Stage 2 teachers told BookTrust they are concerned about their pupils’ level of reading enjoyment*.
The Bookbuzz programme aims to tackle this by giving children in Years 3 to 6 the opportunity to choose and keep a book they’ll love from 16 diverse and inclusive titles, handpicked by BookTrust’s expert panel of teachers. These books are newly selected each year and include the best new fiction and non-fiction titles across a range of genres, book types and reading levels.
Primary schools that sign up for the programme also receive packs of resources. These help teachers create engaging sessions, giving the opportunity for book talk and social reading experiences.
The programme follows the success of Bookbuzz Secondary, which has delivered books to 2 million Year 7 and 8 students since it was launched a decade ago.
Annie Crombie, co-CEO of BookTrust, said: “With research showing that reading for pleasure is decreasing with age, it’s vital to help children find the magic of books. All the evidence shows that allowing children to choose books empowers them and fuels their motivation to read. And we know reading has so many benefits, helping children to develop language and literacy, progress across the curriculum, and improve their wellbeing. That’s where Bookbuzz Primary comes in, providing a range of titles and resources that will bring books to life and help to create a new generation of readers.”
To find out more about Bookbuzz Primary, visit the BookTrust website.
