Reading for Pleasure

Education Committee Open Inquiry
Opened: 23 Nov 2025 Parliament page
Reading brings a range of benefits to children, young people and their families, but the number of children reading for pleasure is declining rapidly. This inquiry will look at the reasons behind this decline and what can be done to reverse this trend. It will look at the benefits of … Read more
10 Recommendations
52 Conclusions
1 Report
5 Oral sessions
5 Events
Activity timeline 6 events
17 Jul
2026
Report published
2 Jun
2026
Oral evidence
19 May
2026
Oral evidence
13 May
2026
Oral evidence
3 Mar
2026
Oral evidence
3 Feb
2026
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions
2 Jun 2026
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Reading for Pleasure
Jenny Oldroyd · Department for Education Olivia Bailey MP · Department for Education
19 May 2026
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Reading for Pleasure
Donna Pentelow · Chief Cultural and Leisure Officers Association (CLOA) Frank Cottrell-Boyce · (None) Isobel Hunter MBE · Libraries Connected Joelle Owusu · Merky Books Meryl Halls · The Booksellers Association Rebecca Sinclair · The Publishers Association Sonia Ramdhian · Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) Sue Kerr · Community Libraries Network
13 May 2026
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Reading for Pleasure
Dr Roger McDonald · The University of Greenwich Frank Young · Parentkind Julie Cigman · Early Education Mrs Victoria Dilly · School Library Association Professor Christine O’Farrelly · University of Cambridge Professor Robert Eaglestone · English Association
3 Mar 2026
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Reading for Pleasure
Annie Crombie · Booktrust Ellen Broomé · British Dyslexia Association Jonathan Douglas · The National Literacy Trust Luke Taylor · Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) Mrs Debbie Hicks · The Reading Agency Ms Anjali Patel · The Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) Onyinye Iwu · (None)
3 Feb 2026
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Reading for Pleasure
Dr Helen Hendry · Open University Dr Jeanne Shinskey · Royal Holloway, University of London Dr Jo Taylor · University College London (UCL) Professor Jessie Ricketts · Royal Holloway, University of London Professor Teresa Cremin CBE · Open University
Title HC No. Published Items Response
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure HC 150 17 Jul 2026 62 Pending
Recommendations & Conclusions
62 results
1 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
Reading for pleasure brings a wealth of benefits to children and to wider society that...
Reading for pleasure brings a wealth of benefits to children and to wider society that cannot be ignored. Reading can give children a huge amount of joy and pleasure, and its benefits extend far beyond educational outcomes for an individual … Read more
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2 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The decline in reading for pleasure is not simply an educational concern but has repercussions...
The decline in reading for pleasure is not simply an educational concern but has repercussions for the whole of society and should be a clear priority for the Government to address. Schools, early years settings, local authorities, the literary industry, … Read more
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3 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The rise in recreational screen use is undoubtedly a major factor crowding out children’s time...
The rise in recreational screen use is undoubtedly a major factor crowding out children’s time to read for pleasure and affecting their attention spans, starting in the very earliest years with babies and young children spending time on devices instead … Read more
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4 Recommendation
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The government must implement in full the remaining recommendations of our response to its consultation...
The government must implement in full the remaining recommendations of our response to its consultation on Growing up in the Online World as a first step to tackling the harmful effects of screen time on children. In particular, it must … Read more
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5 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
Beyond screen time, there are myriad other pressures on childhood restricting the opportunities for children...
Beyond screen time, there are myriad other pressures on childhood restricting the opportunities for children to read, and for parents to read with their children. England is lagging so far behind the international average that we cannot place the blame … Read more
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6 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
Throughout the inquiry, we have seen that the decline in reading for pleasure is not...
Throughout the inquiry, we have seen that the decline in reading for pleasure is not inevitable. It is the result of policy choices, fragmented systems and unequal access. With coordinated national leadership, sustained investment and a renewed focus on joy … Read more
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7 Recommendation
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The Government must commit to a National Reading Guarantee ensuring that every child, regardless of...
The Government must commit to a National Reading Guarantee ensuring that every child, regardless of background, has frequent, regular opportunities to enjoy books, stories and shared reading experiences from birth to 18 as part of everyday life. The National Reading … Read more
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8 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
A central part of the National Reading Guarantee must include a comprehensive Reading for Pleasure...
A central part of the National Reading Guarantee must include a comprehensive Reading for Pleasure strategy. This should be led by the Department for Education working with the Department for Culture, 88 Media and Sport and the Ministry of Housing, … Read more
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9 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The National Year of Reading is a welcome acknowledgement from the government of the importance...
The National Year of Reading is a welcome acknowledgement from the government of the importance of reading and has enabled a range of positive activities to take place, but there is little evidence that it has impacted the core work … Read more
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10 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The Department should build on the National Year of Reading, transforming its focus into a...
The Department should build on the National Year of Reading, transforming its focus into a National Decade of Reading in order to ensure that reading for pleasure remains a long-term priority, and use it as an opportunity to effect much … Read more
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11 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
One key priority group missing from the National Year of Reading is children with SEND,...
One key priority group missing from the National Year of Reading is children with SEND, particularly those with dyslexia and other reading difficulties. The Department must set out what steps it is taking to support these children to develop an … Read more
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12 Recommendation
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
Building on the success and universality of World Book Day, the Government should establish more...
Building on the success and universality of World Book Day, the Government should establish more national moments to promote reading for pleasure throughout the year. (Recommendation, Paragraph 43)
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13 Recommendation
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The private, voluntary and community sectors are stepping up to play their part in getting...
The private, voluntary and community sectors are stepping up to play their part in getting children reading. The necessary foundations for change are already present - there exists a rich and committed ecosystem working to promote reading for pleasure. We … Read more
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14 Recommendation
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The Department must act decisively and evaluate the benefits of the different programmes being undertaken,...
The Department must act decisively and evaluate the benefits of the different programmes being undertaken, with a particular focus on supporting children from those groups least likely to read for pleasure. This should include looking at the benefits of book … Read more
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15 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The early years is a crucial stage for developing a love of reading and engagement...
The early years is a crucial stage for developing a love of reading and engagement with books and stories. We agree with the Department that developing literacy and reading skills is essential, but at this early stage, joy must lead … Read more
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16 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
Many younger childcare practitioners entering the profession will themselves have grown up during a period...
Many younger childcare practitioners entering the profession will themselves have grown up during a period of decline in reading, and other new practitioners may have struggled with reading for pleasure themselves. The Department must therefore ensure that reading for pleasure … Read more
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17 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The Department and Ofsted should update the early years foundation stage profile and early years...
The Department and Ofsted should update the early years foundation stage profile and early years inspection framework to emphasise that, for young children, reading should be focused on building enjoyment and engagement over school readiness and the teaching of phonics. … Read more
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18 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
Parents and carers know the benefits of reading with their children and want to do...
Parents and carers know the benefits of reading with their children and want to do more but face multiple barriers in doing so. Pressures and stresses exist for families across the income distribution; however, these are particularly acute for parents … Read more
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19 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
Alongside its recently published guidance on screen use for the under-5s, the Department must update...
Alongside its recently published guidance on screen use for the under-5s, the Department must update its guidance for parents of primary-aged children on supporting children to read and expand this to parents of children of all age groups. The guidance … Read more
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20 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
Best Start Family Hubs represent a crucial opportunity to support parents, carers and practitioners to...
Best Start Family Hubs represent a crucial opportunity to support parents, carers and practitioners to develop good practice on reading for pleasure. Support for parents and carers must focus on the joy of reading and make it easy and attractive … Read more
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21 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The Department must ensure that all Best Start Family Hubs are embedding reading for pleasure...
The Department must ensure that all Best Start Family Hubs are embedding reading for pleasure into their work by offering sessions and advice for parents and carers as well as training for practitioners and support to early years settings on … Read more
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22 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The Department should ensure that Best Start Family Hubs provide support for parents and carers...
The Department should ensure that Best Start Family Hubs provide support for parents and carers on appropriate screen time use for children of different ages, as well as explaining their own role as an adult in modelling appropriate screen time … Read more
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23 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
Best Start Family Hubs should work hard to develop inclusive activities specifically designed to be...
Best Start Family Hubs should work hard to develop inclusive activities specifically designed to be welcoming to parents and carers who may not have had a positive experience of reading aloud at school or who may struggle to read themselves. … Read more
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24 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
There are many examples of effective programmes having a positive impact in supporting parents and...
There are many examples of effective programmes having a positive impact in supporting parents and carers to read with their children. These programmes should be scaled up to ensure they reach families right across the country. As a first step … Read more
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25 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
Health visitors should include supporting reading for pleasure in their work with parents and young...
Health visitors should include supporting reading for pleasure in their work with parents and young children as a critical tool for bonding and good social and emotional development; the Department for Education should work with the Department of Health to … Read more
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26 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
Schools play a key role in developing a love of reading among children, especially those...
Schools play a key role in developing a love of reading among children, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds who otherwise lack opportunities to access books. The Department acknowledges this, but its policies do not reflect this, with work on reading … Read more
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27 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
There is a wealth of academic evidence demonstrating what good practice in schools looks like...
There is a wealth of academic evidence demonstrating what good practice in schools looks like to encourage reading for pleasure, focusing most strongly on primary schools. It is now time for the Department to make use of this evidence and … Read more
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28 Recommendation
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
In its strategy on Reading for Pleasure, the Department should set out the core elements...
In its strategy on Reading for Pleasure, the Department should set out the core elements of good practice shown by schools who have achieved the Open University’s Reading for Pleasure Quality Mark for schools and set out guidance on how … Read more
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29 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The Department must commission and fund research into best practice to support reading for pleasure...
The Department must commission and fund research into best practice to support reading for pleasure in secondary schools and ensure that this is disseminated to schools and teachers. (Recommendation, Paragraph 119)
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30 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The new school breakfast clubs provide a key opportunity to introduce disadvantaged pupils to reading...
The new school breakfast clubs provide a key opportunity to introduce disadvantaged pupils to reading and books in a fun environment away from the pressures and stresses of learning. The Department must ensure that schools delivering the new breakfast clubs … Read more
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31 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The Department must include a stronger focus for English Hubs on reading for pleasure, alongside...
The Department must include a stronger focus for English Hubs on reading for pleasure, alongside reading proficiency. This should include work on how to support reading for pleasure among children with SEND, especially those with dyslexia and other reading difficulties. … Read more
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32 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The Department should introduce ongoing continuing professional development for primary and secondary school teachers on...
The Department should introduce ongoing continuing professional development for primary and secondary school teachers on reading for pleasure and monitor take-up to ensure that as many teachers as possible are trained in best practice. As a first step, it should … Read more
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33 Recommendation
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The Curriculum and Assessment Review was a missed opportunity to create more space for pupils...
The Curriculum and Assessment Review was a missed opportunity to create more space for pupils to develop a true enjoyment of reading and literature. The Committee has received evidence that the current GCSE English Literature curriculum is overloaded and that … Read more
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34 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
If reading is to provide children with both mirrors of their own worlds and windows...
If reading is to provide children with both mirrors of their own worlds and windows into the lives of others, the curriculum must be designed to support this. It is unacceptable that, in 2023, only 1.5% of students had studied … Read more
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35 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The Department should ensure that its work on developing the new English curriculum is considered...
The Department should ensure that its work on developing the new English curriculum is considered through the lens of reading for pleasure, especially with regards to GCSE English Literature. It should consider removing content to allow teachers more time and … Read more
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36 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The Department should take steps to revise the GCSE English Literature curriculum, including improving the...
The Department should take steps to revise the GCSE English Literature curriculum, including improving the diversity of texts that pupils study. It should expand the definition of literature from the British Isles to a broader definition of literature in English … Read more
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37 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
Establishing the proficiency of children’s reading is important in ensuring that additional support can be...
Establishing the proficiency of children’s reading is important in ensuring that additional support can be provided to those who need it, but we heard different views on when this should take place. The government’s new year eight reading test during … Read more
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38 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The Department must monitor the impact of the year eight reading test and be open...
The Department must monitor the impact of the year eight reading test and be open to feedback from the sector as to how it is working. If feedback shows that year eight is too late to identify pupils needing additional … Read more
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39 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
Access to books is not a luxury but a fundamental driver of educational success.
Access to books is not a luxury but a fundamental driver of educational success. For many children, schools are the first and only place they encounter a wide range of books and stories. School libraries are not optional enhancements but … Read more
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40 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The evidence the Committee has seen points to a sharp drop off in reading for...
The evidence the Committee has seen points to a sharp drop off in reading for pleasure amongst teenagers, but the Department is focusing its efforts on school libraries in primary schools. The Department should extend its pledge to fund a … Read more
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41 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
It is striking that libraries are statutory requirements in prisons, but not schools.
It is striking that libraries are statutory requirements in prisons, but not schools. Once funding for primary and secondary schools is in place, the Department must recognise school libraries as essential public services and place them on a statutory footing. … Read more
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42 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The Department should introduce a school library development fund to enable schools to refresh their...
The Department should introduce a school library development fund to enable schools to refresh their book stock and train staff to run their school library with maximum impact. (Recommendation, Paragraph 162)
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43 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
In its Reading for Pleasure guidelines for schools, the Department should set an expectation for...
In its Reading for Pleasure guidelines for schools, the Department should set an expectation for all schools to include dedicated library lessons in the school timetable, to ensure that all pupils are encouraged and supported to use their library. (Recommendation, … Read more
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44 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The Department must update its design guidelines for new schools and new school buildings to...
The Department must update its design guidelines for new schools and new school buildings to ensure that a library is specified as an essential component of every new school, including primary, secondary and special schools. (Recommendation, Paragraph 164) Reading in … Read more
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45 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
We cannot hope to build a reading nation without the places where reading lives.
We cannot hope to build a reading nation without the places where reading lives. Public and community libraries play an essential role in supporting children and their families to access books, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The impact of closures … Read more
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46 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local...
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government must commit to restoring the funding for public libraries that has been lost since 2010 by the end of this Parliament. They should also … Read more
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47 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The Department for Education, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and the Ministry of...
The Department for Education, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government must work together to create a ‘golden thread’ of reading support across a child’s life and ensure that the forthcoming … Read more
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48 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
Many public and community libraries do innovative and effective outreach work to engage reluctant readers...
Many public and community libraries do innovative and effective outreach work to engage reluctant readers and bring more families into libraries, but too many children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, are still missing out on the benefits that libraries offer. … Read more
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49 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport must work with other relevant departments and local...
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport must work with other relevant departments and local authorities to introduce an auto-enrolment scheme through which every child is issued with a library card on registration of their birth. This must come alongside … Read more
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50 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport should require all local authorities to put in...
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport should require all local authorities to put in place dedicated community reading for pleasure strategies with libraries at the heart of them. These should focus on bringing together services, including early years settings, … Read more
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51 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport should work with the Arts Council and The...
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport should work with the Arts Council and The Reading Agency to extend their existing cross-authority model of the Summer Reading Challenge to more local authorities across the country. This should enable libraries to … Read more
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52 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport should put funding in place for a dedicated...
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport should put funding in place for a dedicated outreach officer for all library services, which is estimated to cost £7.5 million. (Recommendation, Paragraph 186)
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53 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
Schools and early years settings play a crucial role in connecting children with libraries and...
Schools and early years settings play a crucial role in connecting children with libraries and showing them all that their local library has to offer. We heard from children themselves that the only trips they took to their local library … Read more
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54 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
As part of the strategy on reading for pleasure which we are recommending, the Department...
As part of the strategy on reading for pleasure which we are recommending, the Department for Education should set an expectation for all schools and early years settings to organise regular visits to public libraries continuing to the end of … Read more
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55 Recommendation
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
We heard that reluctant readers can be motivated to use libraries and engage with books...
We heard that reluctant readers can be motivated to use libraries and engage with books when libraries offer activities relating books to children’s hobbies and interests. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport should publish guidance for libraries setting an … Read more
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56 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The Department for Education and Department for Culture, Media and Sport should take steps to...
The Department for Education and Department for Culture, Media and Sport should take steps to facilitate data-sharing between schools and public libraries, to enable measures such as auto-enrolment of children to libraries and help children to sign up to the … Read more
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57 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The wider industry, including authors, illustrators, publishers and booksellers, bears a strong responsibility alongside government...
The wider industry, including authors, illustrators, publishers and booksellers, bears a strong responsibility alongside government to play its part in getting more children reading for pleasure and sustaining their engagement. We were heartened to hear of their commitment and enthusiasm … Read more
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58 Recommendation
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
There is still a long road to travel in terms of improving the diversity in...
There is still a long road to travel in terms of improving the diversity in the texts available to children. Too many children still do not see themselves represented in books, and, while some progress has been made, the trends … Read more
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59 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
In the extension of the National Year of Reading to the National Decade of Reading...
In the extension of the National Year of Reading to the National Decade of Reading which we are recommending, the Department for Education must make authors, publishers and booksellers partners in the design and delivery of activities and initiatives, including … Read more
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60 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The Department for Education should work with the Careers and Enterprise Company to develop high-quality...
The Department for Education should work with the Careers and Enterprise Company to develop high-quality information and advice on careers in the writing, publishing and bookselling industries and ensure that these are being promoted to children and young people, especially … Read more
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61 Recommendation
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
The Department for Education should publish guidance for schools and early years settings outlining how...
The Department for Education should publish guidance for schools and early years settings outlining how they should work with the wider literary industry, including visits to public libraries, author visits, links with local bookshops, and the publishing industry. (Recommendation, Paragraph … Read more
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62 Conclusion
2nd Report - Reading for Pleasure
Author visits to schools and other education settings can be transformational in inspiring young readers...
Author visits to schools and other education settings can be transformational in inspiring young readers and helping children see the person behind the magic. The Department for Education should develop resources for schools and early years settings with clear points … Read more
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