National Literacy Trust

Every young person, regardless of where they grow up, should leave school with essential literacy skills for life. But with declining writing and reading enjoyment, and the added pressures of the cost of living crisis, there are plenty of barriers to overcome. 1 in 5 parents and carers are spending less on books for their children due to tighter finances - meaning that more children are at risk of missing out on the many benefits of reading from improved wellbeing to better results at school. That's why we've teamed up with Morrisons to help keep children reading over the summer holidays. All of their stores have a Kids Corner - stocked with books, games and puzzles. Thank you, Morrisons, for joining us in this mission and supporting families across the UK. Together, we are transforming life stories.

Recently, our writing report revealed that less than a third of children and young people enjoy writing in their free time, and only 1 in 9 are writing daily. High numbers are leaving primary and secondary school without the literacy skills they need to thrive and children’s futures are being put at risk.   That’s why we’re thrilled to announce the return of West Yorkshire Poetry Week from 30 September – 4 October as part of the West Yorkshire Young Poet Laureate Programme for 2024-25! Encouraging a love of writing, performing, and reading poetry supports literacy skills that lead to better well-being, educational attainment and better futures.   Working with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and the National Poetry Centre, we’re going to bring the energy of contemporary poetry to your classroom with a week-long programme of free activities, class resources and events including National Poetry Day celebrations to inspire the next generation of poets in the region.   Find out more: https://lnkd.in/ezxnDSfQ

We’ve hit over 12,000 donations of The Gruffalo to children across the UK! ✨Earlier this year we launched our Gift a Gruffalo campaign in partnership with National Literacy Trust and Macmillan Children’s Books to match every copy of The Gruffalo bought from our stores or online at whsmith.co.uk with a donation of the iconic children’s book to communities where it is needed most. Running throughout the summer our amazing customers have already had a major impact with their purchases resulting in over 12,000 copies of The Gruffalo going to children across the UK. Reading is vital for improving early language, literacy, and communication skills, which are crucial for a child's development. These donations will provide children who may not currently own a book with the chance to discover the magic of reading and enhance their future life chances. But we’re not stopping there…with the campaign in place until 5th September there is still plenty of time for more customers to buy a copy of The Gruffalo today and make a significant difference, one book at a time! 📚 #ForEveryJourneyTheresAWHSmith #BookDonation 

This morning 60 grassroots Literacy Champion volunteers joined staff, trustees and supporters of The National Literacy Trust at a special reception in Clarence House. The event, hosted by our long-standing Patron, Her Majesty The Queen celebrated three decades of championing literacy within some of the UK’s most disadvantaged communities.  Over the last 30 years, we have inspired and empowered over 5million children and worked with nearly 17,000 schools. It is the commitment of our volunteers, their embodiment of our mission, and the support of our partners, friends, authors, trustees and staff over these three decades, that has helped us achieve what we have. From bus drivers, teachers and football coaches; to librarians and youth leaders, there are currently over 1,000 Literacy Champions across the UK. These extraordinary people help us to change life stories. Read more in our article below, which includes six case studies from people who have been championing literacy in their communities.

What, apart from decoding, supports pupils in Key Stage 2 (ages 7-11) to be fluent, independent readers? 🤔 Although there are no quick fixes, we have developed a toolkit of evidence-based strategies to enrich practice and support your pupils’ reading comprehension. Attend our two-day online training, on 1 October and 29 April, to explore vocabulary, metacognition and dialogic learning and develop an action plan for your school. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/ecz9zy8p

At the National Literacy Trust, we believe in the transformative power of literacy to change life stories. That’s why we work directly in 20 areas across the UK, bringing together schools, families, and community organisations to support literacy development. Our network of over 1,000 Literacy Champions - ranging from bus drivers and teachers to football coaches and librarians - plays a crucial role in this mission. These dedicated volunteers embody the communities they come from and empower children and their families to unlock their potential, fostering a love for reading, writing, oracy and learning. Over the past 30 years, we’ve supported nearly 17,000 schools and reached over 5million children, making a lasting impact on communities nationwide. Together, we’re building brighter futures through the power of literacy.

Our work in Bradford including the Bradford Bus, part of the Arts Council England funded #ConnectingStories programme.

The #PearsonSchoolReport 2024 is HERE! Download it now for insights into what teachers and learners think of education today https://bit.ly/45FzuT3

This week, we welcome Andrew Ettinger to the National Literacy Trust as our newly appointed Director of Education. Andrew joins the charity’s Senior Management Team and will be responsible for leading the National Literacy Trust’s strategy for raising literacy levels through its partnership with the education sector, and for growing the scale and the impact of this work. Starting out as an English Teacher in South London where he saw the impact that a great teacher can have on children’s lives, especially those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds, he has most recently been an Associate Professor of Education at London South Bank University where he led the PGCE course, ensuring diverse cohorts of students were fully prepared to be excellent teachers in primary schools in London. He has worked across the education system in senior roles with a focus on ensuring that the young people who can benefit the most receive the best teaching possible. This includes being: a Policy Advisor at the Department for Education, where he was responsible for young people’s participation in education including Raising the Participation Age legislation; Programmes Director at Teaching Leaders (now Ambition Institute) leading the design and content for some of the country’s largest and most impactful professional development programmes, and he has held national roles responsible for teacher training policy and school collaboration. Andrew holds a BA in English Literature, an MA in Literature and Film and a PGCE in Secondary English teaching. Jonathan Douglas said, “This is an exciting time to join our team as we celebrate 30 years of changing lives through literacy, and we are delighted to welcome Andrew to the National Literacy Trust. He brings with him a wealth of knowledge and expertise from the education sector that will help maximise the impact of our work with education partners. Leading a highly effective schools directorate, Andrew will oversee delivery of activity in schools and settings which face the biggest challenges in the UK’s most disadvantaged communities, and work with Government and other national education leaders to drive forward the National Literacy Trust’s mission.” https://lnkd.in/e7799-YA

Congratulations to Frank Cottrell Boyce on becoming the new Waterstones Children’s Laureate 2024 - 2026! We fully support his vision to make reading for pleasure a national priority. Reading for pleasure leads to better academic and wellbeing outcomes for children but, last year, the National Literacy Trust reported that less than half of children and young people read for pleasure in their spare time – the lowest since the NLT’s records began in 2005 - meaning that thousands are missing out on improved wellbeing and better results at school. We welcome and applaud the new Children’s Laureate’s work to help create a fairer Britain where every child no matter where they live or whatever their background can enjoy the life-changing benefits of reading.