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Developing a Reading Strategy
in your Local Authority.
Useful for: Chief Executives, elected
members and strategic managers
Reading for pleasure:
Reading for life
Booktrust recommends that every Local
Authority embeds the national, free book
programmes as a core offer within their
own Reading Strategy and that the Reading
Strategy should be securely positioned
within the Local Authority Children and
Young People’s Plan (CYPP).
Booktrust is an independent charity dedicated
to encouraging people of all ages and cultures to
engage with books. Supported by Arts Council
England and by central and local government,
Booktrust’s library promotions, educational
programmes, projects, activities, campaigns,
prizes and events contribute towards national
and local targets and priorities, helping to
build communities of readers.
Bookstart, our free bookgifting programme
for babies, toddlers and preschool children
is followed by Booktime for reception-aged
children and Booked Up for Year 7 children.
The programmes are public/private
partnerships supported by central government
and generously sponsored by authors,
illustrators and other providers.
They are delivered in every Local Authority
in England and reach around 3.3 million
children each year.
Additionally, The Letterbox Club is a
purchasable programme specifically targeted
at improving the educational outlook of
looked-after children in Key Stage 2.
Our collective vision is to give people of every
age and culture the educational, intellectual,
social, cultural, creative, health and emotional
benefits that arise from a love of books and
engagement with the written word.
A Reading Strategy in every Local
Authority: Why now?
A bespoke plan for reading and reader
development in every Local Authority is one
of the most important ambitions and legacies
of the National Year of Reading 2008. An
authority-wide approach to reading requires
support at the highest strategic level.
It should include all service providers,
professionals and voluntary organisations
and mandate them to work collectively and
collaboratively together. The best plans will
raise awareness of the intrinsic value of reading
for pleasure and purpose, both in terms of its
impact on literacy and attainment and also in
terms of providing a cultural and creative
entitlement for every child.
Most importantly; the Reading Strategy
should be embedded as a fundamental core
provision within the CYPP.
Booktrust. Developing a Reading Strategy in your Local Authority The Apprenticeships, Skills, Children
and Learning Act 2009 and Children
and Young People’s Plans
The statutory requirement that each Local
Authority should publish its new or refreshed
CYPP by April 2011 provides an excellent
opportunity to embed both the Reading
Strategy and the inclusion of the bookgifting
programmes within that.
Booktrust. The case for a Reading
Strategy within your Children and
Young People’s Plan
The bookgifting programmes provide
Local Authorities with a cultural and creative
entitlement for every child. The continuum of
Bookstart, Booktime, Booked Up and, also,
The Letterbox Club leads into and connects
with other reading and literacy promotion
activity and supports positive outcomes for the
whole community. The national bookgifting
programmes make a valuable contribution to
improving the life chances of children across
each of the five outcomes of Every Child
Matters. Most Children’s Trusts recognise
this contribution and most Local Authorities
include Bookstart in their C YPP.
Bookstart, Booktime, Booked Up and
The Letterbox Club provide Local Authorities
with a cultural and creative entitlement for
every child. These programmes provide a core
continuum which leads into and connects with
other reading and literacy promotion activity
and supports positive outcomes for the
whole community.
In order to realise their full potential, and
that of the children who benefit from them,
Booktrust calls for the national free book
programmes and The Letterbox Club to be
included in the Reading Strategy and CYPP
of every Local Authority.
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Bookstart, Booktime, Booked Up
Inspiring a love of books in
every child
Independent reading for pleasure is the
most important indicator of the future success
of a child. Research from the Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD, 2002) showed that reading enjoyment
is more important for children’s educational
success than their family’s socio-economic
status. Research proves that independent
reading is positively linked with
children’s literacy:
> Reading attainment and writing ability
(OECD, 2000, Krashen, 1993,
Anderson et al, 1988)
>
Breadth of vocabulary (Angelos and
McGriff, 2002) even after other relevant
abilities such as IQ are controlled for
(Cunningham and Stanovich, 1998)
Adults benefit too; developing the habit
of reading at any point in life can have a
profound effect on an individual. Research
proves that independent reading increases:
> General knowledge (Cunningham
and Stanovich, 1998)
>
Community cohesion via a better
understanding of other cultures
(Meek, 1991); and, Community
participation (Bus, van Ijzendoorm
& Pellegrini, 1995)
> Health and Wellbeing; Pleasure
reading in later life (Aarnoutse and
van Leeuwe, 1998)
Booktrust. Developing a Reading Strategy in your Local Authority Independent reading for pleasure
should be strategically encouraged and
promoted as it helps to: combat social
exclusion, raise literacy and educational
standards, support health and emotional
wellbeing and increase life chances.
National Literacy Trust’s (2008) Literacy
Changes Lives considers the positive
attributes of a literate family.
A literate family is…
…more likely to live in a working household –
Families with high literacy levels are more
likely to live in working households. Only 2%
of families with good literacy live in
non-working households.
…more likely to own their own home –
Families with high literacy are more likely
to own their own houses and not live in
overcrowded conditions.
…far more likely to participate in community –
Among those with level 2 literacy, 21% of men
and 29% of women actively participate in
community activities.
…more likely to trust people in community –
Scottish data shows that individuals with good
literacy are significantly more likely to trust
people in their community, with only 2% of
men and 1% of women with good literacy
saying that they didn’t trust people at all.
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…more likely to vote –
Highly literate individuals are more
likely to vote and have an interest in
politics, therefore participating in the
democratic process and holding an
interest in the governance of the nation.
… likely to smoke and drink less
and have better mental health –
High literacy levels are associated
with lower drinking and smoking,
as well as higher levels of good
mental health.
…better skilled and more
flexible in the workforce –
A literate workforce is advantageous to
both employees and employers. CBI data
shows that good literacy skills provide
an opportunity for flexibility in the
workforce across all sectors.
Booktrust. Developing a Reading Strategy in your Local Authority 4
Booktrust aims to encourage
people of all ages and cultures to
engage with books
Bookstart
‘I didn’t want to be a “pushy parent”
so when I had my son I didn’t sit down
and share books with him as I was worried
I might be doing wrong by starting too soon.
The Bookstart baby pack was wonderful as
it gave me “permission” to share books and
stories with him every day – I read the
guidance and found that it was good to read
with my son and I discovered ideas and
suggestions on how I could have fun and
help him develop.Thank you Bookstart.’
Parent/Carer
‘It was great to see my son’s face light up
when he received the Bookstart Treasure
Chest. Although I read to Calum every night,
the “Ideas” book really helped me to see
how much more I could do to help my child
develop. I got so much pleasure out of seeing
my son happy with his new books. Seeing
him excited also encourages me to
encourage him. I would like to thank
Bookstart for making parents see what
is right in front of them each and every
day, the many ways you can help your
child develop.’ Parent/Carer
Booktime
‘I think Booktime is really good.
It encourages my little boy to choose
a book and then we read it together.
He is more interested now when
we go to the library.’ Parent/Carer
‘I had to read the book to the twins at
bedtime lots of times. I said,“Don’t you
know it off by heart now?” Freddy said
he did but he still wanted me to read it.’
Parent/Carer
‘My four year old has had Mr Big
for five bedtimes in a row and knows
bits off by heart now!’ Parent
‘My four year old thought it was
fantastic to receive his very own
book. It’s a great idea.’ Parent
‘Booktime got children into libraries
who hadn’t previously visited and
made them want to come back, many
children said they would ask their
mums to bring them again.’
Librarian
Booktrust. Developing a Reading Strategy in your Local Authority Booked Up
‘Thank you for the free book you gave me
at my school. I’m really enjoying it and
Booked Up could prove really useful to
inspire people to read. It must be helping
because I used to hate reading, but I’m
really getting into Skullduggary
Pleasant.’ Yr 7 pupil
‘It is a very good idea that Booked Up
exists because it benefits everybody –
children who don’t have money to spend
on books can read them and children who
don’t think they like reading can experience
it, which helps their teachers, and it is
also good for children who want to
add to their collection of books.
Thank you again – I am confident that
your charity will continue to be as excellent
as it is now and perhaps even better.’
Yr 7 pupil
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The Letterbox Club
‘Jake felt rather special as he loved the
postman delivering his parcel each month.
He enjoyed getting everyone together and
playing with his games and reading his
books.’ Carer of Yr 5/6 Boy
‘Danielle really enjoys her parcels –
it helps her because she finds concentrating
difficult but I have noticed her reading
the books quietly to herself, which doesn’t
happen often!!’ Carer of Yr 3/4 girl
‘Dylan reads every morning before
school, he reads to Jack who is five.’
Carer of boy aged nine
‘I read to my sisters, about vampire bats.
They said,“George, what’s in that book?”
and I said “Nothing much, unless you want
me to read it to you?“and they said “Yes”.’
Boy aged eight
Booktrust. Developing a Reading Strategy in your Local Authority 6
Book Sharing and
Every Child Matters
How the Reading Strategy can
help to achieve local targets
Be Healthy – Book sharing promotes an
active and enquiring mind. Handling books
and sharing stories and rhymes helps to
support cognitive development as well
as fine motor skills.
Locally agreed National Indicators can
offer an opportunity for Local Authorities to
consider the benefits of adopting a Reading
Strategy. This approach can help support
targets and improve outcomes through an
holistic approach which links departments
in a shared aim.
Stay Safe – Bookstart encourages a secure start
by supporting parents and children to bond by
sharing books, stories and rhymes from birth.
This close relationship offers opportunities to
share knowledge, thoughts, ideas and feelings
that will contribute to a child’s safety.
Enjoy and Achieve – Bookstart supports
the development of spoken language and
communication skills. Sharing books and
rhymes from an early age helps children
develop their imagination, creativity, interests,
confidence and self-esteem. Research has
demonstrated that Bookstart children were
ahead in literacy and numeracy on starting
school and maintained this through
Key Stage 1.
Achieve Economic Wellbeing – By encouraging
early book sharing, Bookstart supports children
to become lifelong learners, enhancing their
future prospects. Reading for pleasure and
writing are key to developing the literacy and
communication skills essential for future
employment prospects.
Make a Positive Contribution – Families who
understand the role of books and reading are
more likely to join the library which is very
often a child’s first act of citizenship. Coming
together in a community space opens up access
to a wide range of resources to support their
journey through life. Reading for pleasure not
only impacts on reading achievement but also
increases community participation (Bus, van
Ijzendoorm and Pellegrini, 1995).
Some key challenges that a Reading
Strategy can support are:
1. Health and wellbeing – by minimising
inequalities from the earliest age.
2. Prosperity of communities – by supporting
individuals in their development of literacy,
creativity and problem solving skills.
3. Social Inclusion and Community Cohesion
– with an offer tailored to individual needs and
resources available locally.
4. Improvements across the five Every
Child Matters Outcomes
A Reading Strategy developed locally will be
able to address the priorities within the Local
Area Agreement and with the inclusion of
Booktrust’s bookgifting programmes, provide
evidence for the Comprehensive Area
Assessment.