Children’s enjoyment of reading is at its lowest point in 20 years, with just one in three children choosing to read books for pleasure.
National literacy charity, Schoolreaders, is pledging to deliver 1.5 million one-to-one reading sessions in schools across England. It aims to reverse this trend, as the Government kick starts a reading revolution in 2026.
The National Year of Reading 2026 will rally parents, schools, libraries, businesses and the wider community to foster daily reading habits, ‘reading by example’ to improve literacy outcomes.
The country’s largest in-school child literacy charity, Schoolreaders, has supported a record number of face-to-face reading sessions reaching over one million last year. This amounted to the most sessions delivered in a single academic year for the first time in its history.
With access to 1 in 5 primary schools across England, Schoolreaders connects over 3,500 volunteers to reach 35,000 children providing reading sessions every week to help build essential literacy skills.
Now the charity has pledged to go even further, by achieving 1.5 million reading sessions in 2026 which represents a 50% increase on last year’s – a bold response to the Government’s call to create a ‘nation of readers’ in 2026.
Sally Wrampling, CEO of Schoolreaders, said: “Reaching one million reading sessions in a single academic year is already an extraordinary achievement, and reaching 1.5 million in the coming year is an ambitious goal.
“This is made possible by our incredible volunteers who give their time selflessly to go into school and listen to children read. This one-to-one reading time with an adult is something many children sadly do not have access to, and the truth is that thousands of schools and their pupils still need this extra support.
“To achieve this, we will need to work more closely than ever with our partners, funders and corporate supporters, secure increased financial support and reach more volunteers, to make a lasting impact for the children who need us most.”
As part of its work, Schoolreaders is keen to focus on those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds. Each year, only 10% of disadvantaged children who leave primary school with their reading below the expected standard pass English and Maths at GCSE. Without the foundation of literacy, children face barriers in education, in employment, and beyond.
Jane Whitbread, Schoolreaders Founder and Chair of Trustees, said: “When we began Schoolreaders in 2013, our vision was simple: no child should leave primary school unable to read well.
“One million sessions in a single year is a milestone to be proud of, but it is only the beginning. We want to go ever further to support the efforts of The National Year of Reading, to encourage meaningful change to children’s reading habits – not only for 2026, but for the rest of their lives to come.”
The pledge was unveiled at a recent launch event which saw renowned broadcaster Kate Adie speak with Schoolreaders volunteer Carolyn Jones, a retired Family Court Judge, about the life-changing impact of literacy.
Carolyn Jones, Schoolreader volunteer, said: “In my career I have often had to sit behind children and young people in dreadful situations. Many families I worked with had a disadvantaged background, often including poor literacy not only among children, but their parents too.”
“Now, it is great to have the chance to sit beside children and help them to learn a skill which will set them up for better opportunities in life.”
Reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success – more than their family circumstances, their families’ educational background or their income.
Schoolreaders’ sessions don’t just improve children’s reading skills, they also boost confidence and help children discover the joy of books and the pleasure of sharing stories with a trusted adult.
To support the Schoolreaders Pledge during the National Year of Reading, donate or become a volunteer now: http://www.schoolreaders.org/national-year-of-reading
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