In light of new findings from the National Literacy Trust's Annual Literacy Survey 20241, Schoolreaders is highlighting the critical role of reading support and the urgent need to recruit more reading volunteers.
The survey reveals a sharp decline in children’s enjoyment of reading and frequency of reading in their free time, with fewer than 35% of children aged 8-18 now saying they enjoy reading1. Only 1 in 5 young people report reading daily—a significant decrease since last year, marking the lowest levels recorded since the study began in 20051.
This is particularly worrying as it is the enjoyment of reading, more so than literacy skill level, that has been shown to have the greatest impact on a child’s future achievements. This has been shown to have an even greater bearing than socio-economic background or family composition2.
Enjoyment levels have dropped over the past year regardless of whether children and young people received Free School Meals (FSMs) or not. However, the gap in reading enjoyment between these two groups is now at its lowest levels since 2016. Schoolreaders targets children who are the most disadvantaged, and hopes to help close this gap even further.
Schoolreaders is dedicated to tackling literacy challenges by providing vital reading support in primary schools across England. Our volunteers work directly with children, offering one-on-one reading sessions that foster a love for reading and strengthen literacy skills at KS1 and KS2. As this report demonstrates, the stakes are high: without intervention, children risk falling behind in a skill crucial to their success, not only in school, but in the rest of their future opportunities to come.
"Now, more than ever, our work is essential," said newly appointed Schoolreaders CEO Sally Wrampling.
"These findings underscore the importance of fostering a love of reading in children. Our Schoolreaders volunteers give children the opportunity to experience the joy of reading, which in turn improves their literacy skills. We urgently need more volunteers to reach even more of the children who need this support the most."
The Need for Volunteers
The National Literacy Trust’s report calls for action on a national scale to address this literacy crisis. Schoolreaders is committed to supporting this initiative by continuing to recruit volunteers to work with primary school children who may not receive sufficient reading support at home. Volunteers help improve children’s literacy by listening to children read, building their confidence, and inspiring them to find the joy in reading.
Join Schoolreaders: Make a Lasting Impact
Schoolreaders is calling on anyone who loves reading and has an hour a week to spare to join our network of reading volunteers. By dedicating just an hour a week, volunteers can make a transformative difference in the lives of young readers, supporting their education and setting them up for a lifetime of learning.
For more information on how to become a Schoolreaders volunteer, visit Schoolreeaders.org/volunteer
1National Literacy Trust Children and Young People’s reading report. https://nlt.cdn.ngo/media/documents/Children_and_young_peoples_reading_in_2024_Report.pdf
2 Gov.uk Research evidence on reading for pleasure https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7c18d540f0b61a825d66e9/reading_for_pleasure.pdf
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