National Literacy Trust

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.

At the National Literacy Trust, we know that the power of literacy extends far beyond the pages of a book - it has the potential to transform lives, especially within the criminal justice system. Our Readconnect programme, which brings storytelling workshops to prisons, is a shining example of how we use this power to make a profound impact on individuals and families. Imagine being in a place where hope feels distant and connections to loved ones are strained. This is the reality for many people in prison. More than half of the men in HMP Swaleside have children under 18 but because the prison is difficult to reach (located on the Isle of Sheppey), 55% of the prison population receive visits less than once a week. The isolation they face is compounded by the lack of access to cultural and enrichment activities that many of us take for granted. Readconnect aims to bridge this gap. Through creative storytelling workshops, we offer participants the tools to build stronger connections with their children and families. These workshops provide a means for self-expression and emotional bonding. Participants learn new skills (like reading aloud) and receive activity packs and books to use with their families over the phone, during visits, or at family days. This means participants can spend quality time with their children and support their speech, language, and communication skills. One participant from HMP Swaleside shared, "It was so inspiring, what a great time we had that will help the children immensely." This sentiment echoes throughout the feedback we receive. At HMP Downview, another participant reflected, "It made me feel happy. I actually forgot I was in prison; it made me explore my inner deepest imagination which was magical." Every single participant reported gaining ideas for supporting their children’s or family member’s learning. The workshops also inspired nearly all the participants to become more involved in their children’s education; 91% of participants at HMP Downview feel more confident in supporting their children’s learning through storytelling and reading, whilst 95% of participants at HMP Swaleside said the same. Regular contact with family members is crucial for the rehabilitation and resettlement of people in prison. It supports mental health, adds structure and stability to their lives, and gives meaning to their rehabilitation. Authors like Sita Brahmachari and Ciaran Thapar help make this work possible. Together, we’re helping people change their stories. Read the full impact reports here (in the side bar!): https://lnkd.in/eGTkdgkQ

As the nation is gripped for England vs Slovakia this weekend, have you ever thought about the power of football to inspire children’s reading? We have!   That’s why we’re running a free, fun-filled, footy-themed Book Battle Reading Challenge throughout the Euros, culminating in an incredible live online event ahead of the final with legendary children’s author Tom Palmer.   The challenge encourages students aged 5-14 to champion their favourite book (or comic or poem or magazine – everything goes) and battle it out through the group stages and knock-out rounds, all the way to the final.   What do you need to know? ⚽ We have kitbags full of free resources online to get you started, including teacher guidelines, a wall chart, recommended reads, certificates and more. 🏆 Children’s author Tom Palmer will host a live online finale on Friday 12 July to celebrate all things football and reading (and to get us ready for the Euros final on Sunday…) 📖 It’s easy to deliver and gives pupils fun and interactive ways to engage with reading and different texts. 🤝 It promotes teamwork and oracy skills, such as presenting and debating in class.   Download your free resources today and sign-up for Tom Palmer’s live event: https://lnkd.in/euqpSXYT

In September 2023 our research revealed that reading enjoyment among children and young people hit the lowest we have ever recorded. Together with our partners, we're working hard to change the story. Our next reading report will be released in September and over the coming weeks we will share how our partnership with Arts Council England and publishers is promoting the benefits of reading enjoyment across the country. The National Literacy Trust is proud to celebrate the ongoing impact of Arts Council England (ACE) and the publishing sector’s investment in 14 of our Literacy Hubs across England. Launched in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, this collaboration leveraged our unique place-based approach and the generosity of the publishing sector to improve literacy levels in disadvantaged communities through literature. We focused on supporting families disproportionately affected by lockdowns in 14 of England's most disadvantaged and diverse towns and cities with the lowest reading levels. Our local teams working alongside our national team and publishers were ambitious. Together, we developed a national network of place-based local campaigns known as #ConnectingStories. These community-owned initiatives aimed to support literacy by levelling up access to high-quality literary activities. Inspired by the #LetsCreate Outcomes framework, our core approach centred around a calendar of community-driven reader development and creative writing activities. Activities celebrated the diverse communities that make up these local areas to foster a greater sense of community and cultural ownership in our work. The diversity of artists and organisations we collaborate with continues today. ACE funding played a pivotal role in mobilising a unified national reader development campaign. Designed and delivered in partnership with communities, the campaign benefited from cross-sectoral partnerships (both cultural and non-cultural) and a unique alliance of publishers committed to supporting these communities. ACE's investment has been transformative for our organisation. We transitioned from a London-centric model, to empowering our local teams to become decision-makers for the National Literacy Trust within their communities and across the country. Stay tuned for local success stories from across the country.