New National Literacy Trust research shows that just over a third of children in the South West enjoy reading in their free time - the worst levels recorded by the charity in 19 years.
New research published today by the National Literacy Trust has revealed that enjoyment of reading in the South West is at crisis point, falling drastically in the last year alone, according to new research published today by the National Literacy Trust.
It has been revealed that just over a third (35.7%) of children and young people in the South West say they enjoy reading in their free time, a decline of 12.9% since 2023.
The research shows that twice as many children and young people who enjoy reading in their free time have above average reading skills than children who don’t enjoy it (34.2% vs 15.7%).
For Swindon, these findings come at an important time, when children and young people’s reading skills are cause for concern, particularly for those from disadvantaged communities.
Last year, 1 in 4 (23%) 11-year-olds in the town left primary school without the reading skills they need to learn and thrive, rising to 2 in 5 (41%) of those eligible for free school meals.
The research also revealed that when children and young people enjoy reading in their free time, they find it easier to relax, feel happy, learn new things, understand the views of others, learn about other cultures and be confident. Concerningly this means that across the South West, the two thirds of children and young people who don’t enjoy reading could be missing out on these benefits.
The data also shows a worrying gender gap in reading for enjoyment; with fewer than 3 in 10 (28.2%) boys now saying they enjoy reading in their free time, compared with 4 in 10 (40.5%) girls. The overall gender gap in children and young people’s reading enjoyment has nearly tripled in the last year (from 4.8 to 12.3 percentage points).
These findings come from a national survey of more than 76,000 children and young people aged 5 to 18 across the UK, which recorded the lowest national reading enjoyment levels since the charity first started surveying children about their reading 19 years ago, with a significant annual decline in every region of the country.
The National Literacy Trust has been working in communities in Swindon for almost seven years supporting local families and inspiring children and young people to unlock the lifelong benefits that come from reading for pleasure. It works across nurseries, schools, libraries and community spaces to deliver events, gift books and author visits with the likes of Steve Antony and Tom Percival, both from the region.
Most recently, local schools including Seven Fields Primary School, Mountford Manor Primary School, Ruskin Junior School and Goddard Park Community Primary School have been involved in World of Stories and the Young Readers Programme where hundreds of children are experiencing the benefits of having books in school libraries and at home (for some, the first they’ve ever owned).
This work is made possible by bringing together partners, schools and businesses to tackle local literacy issues. It has never been more important, and the charity now calls on the government to make reading for pleasure a regional and national priority.
Anish Harrison, Manager of the National Literacy Trust in Swindon, said: “It is vital that all children and young people have the opportunity to develop the literacy skills they need to get the most out of life. Every community faces different challenges, and we have made a long-term commitment to working closely with schools, families and local organisations in Swindon to reach children who need support the most.
“We know that when children enjoy reading, they read more often, benefiting their reading skills, wellbeing, confidence and educational outcomes. The National Literacy Trust hopes to empower 1.5 million more children and young people across the country to read for pleasure and change the story of reading enjoyment for future generations.”
The National Literacy Trust is committing, over the next three years, to directly supporting and empowering 1.5 million more children and young people in the communities where it works, including throughout Swindon, to read for pleasure and develop greater confidence in their reading skills.
The National Literacy Trust has also launched the #GrowAGenerationOfReaders social media campaign – backed by authors, charities, publishers and more – flipping the concept of content warnings on its head to instead extol the benefits of reading, as identified by children and young people through its research.
The public are being urged to join the campaign, posting a photo of a book cover, captioned with its warning – for example: May Spark Joy, Could Build Confidence and High Wellbeing Factor. Free social media graphics are available: literacytrust.org.uk/reading-for-pleasure/social-media-assets
The National Literacy Trust has also curated a range of free resources to help families, teachers and businesses encourage children’s reading: literacytrust.org.uk/reading-for-pleasure
Find out more information about the National Literacy Trust’s work in Swindon on their website and on Facebook.
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