The National Year of Reading 2026 will empower teachers with creative ways to
make reading part of everyday learning.
Schools sit at the very heart of bringing the campaign to life. These section of the Claire’s Staffroom will provide you will links and resources to raise the profile even further of reading for pleasure.
The ‘Go All In’ campaign from The National Literacy Trust has some key
messages to promote:
Start with what young people love.
Go with children’s interests, by finding out what they might like to read about first. When I was teaching in a rural school, a number of the girls had dyslexia and were finding reading a challenge. i discovered Barrington Stoke books and chose the ones based on horses as they were all avid members of pony club! It worked a treat!
Reading does not have to be just books.
I used to have boxes of magazines in my classroom and encouraged Reading for Pleasure at designated times, so pupils didn’t think that they just needed to read their reading scheme books.
I found the following ones particularly interesting but there are plenty out there to fit particular interests and parents will often donate old ones if you ask.
Make reading aloud to the class and storytelling a special time.
My most inspiring headteacher once told is that no matter what, we must make time for reading a good book to the class EVERY DAY! This was one of the best things I could have done and the children looked forward to it and even sometimes took turns in reading to give my voice a rest! They were also sometimes involved in the book choices. Try to make the experience cosy and comfortable, I have even had the odd pupil fall asleep! I also loved taking the class onto the field to read to them in the Summer.
To focus and prioritise this, why not sign up for National Storytelling Week?
Start a book club for fun!
For many years I ran an adult book club but I hadn’t considered running a childrens’ one but recently, we had a parent who came in one lunchtime to do a shared reading book club with children who opted for this. It was really successful and there has been research conducted by the School Library Association, Farshore and HarperCollins Children’s Books, to assess the value of such initiatives.
The study demonstrated the social, emotional and academic benefits of the relaxed book clubs.
Promote Book Talk!
One of the most powerful, and most simple, ways to make reading fun is through informal book talk.
Book talk turns reading into something social and meaningful. It is those everyday conversations where children share what made them laugh, what left them wondering or what they would recommend to a friend. These chats do not need a big stage; they happen at the doorway, during transitions and while browsing shelves. With a few intentional tweaks, you can create a classroom where book talk feels natural and spontaneous.
Start them early!
Early experiences of reading will have significant influence on children’s views and feelings about reading as they get older. It is crucial for children to develop a love of early reading to enable them to learn the necessary skills to become successful readers themselves.
National Literacy Trust research has shown that reading for pleasure can help children access wider benefits for learning and wellbeing as they grow. The foundations for children enjoying reading and actively choosing to read are established from their earliest experiences.
Additional Resources:
Reading Events coming up:
