Frank Cottrell-Boyce hosts Reading Rights Summit calling on the government to ‘de-silo reading’

As reported in our latest issue, BfK 270, Waterstones Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce, will host ‘The Reading Rights Summit’ at Liverpool’s St George’s Hall today, 22 January.

The day-long summit – the first of its kind led by a Children’s Laureate – will bring together expert voices in the political, education, literacy, early years, arts and health sectors. As he took on the Laureateship in July, Cottrell-Boyce outlined his intention to work with just such experts to devise a course of action to ensure that the ‘life-changing benefits of children’s reading are taken seriously’, and take this to policy-makers.

Among those attending the Summit are the children’s commissioner for England, Rachel de Souza, and former children’s laureates Michael Rosen and Cressida Cowell.

Summit speakers will call on the UK government to deliver on three key policy asks:

The best start in life: The call is to normalise sharing stories as part of the best start in life for every child, with midwives, health visitors and other early years professionals introducing reading to all families.

This will be opened by Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, followed by a panel chaired by Julie Hayward, Director of Partnerships, BookTrust with speakers including Anna Hartley, Executive Director of Public Health, Barnsley Council, Dr Sam Wass, Director, Institute for the Science of Early Years, University of East London and Cressida Cowell, Children’s Laureate (2019-2022).

Nurseries and schools: The intention that nurseries and schools be equipped and supported so that sharing books and stories is at the heart of early education for every child.

This will be opened by Michael Rosen, Children’s Laureate 2007-2009, followed by a panel chaired by Ruthann Hughes, Director of Research and Impact, BookTrust. Speakers include Neil Leitch, Chief Executive, Early Years Alliance, Dr Julian Grenier, Senior Content & Engagement Manager, Education Endowment Foundation and Sonia Thompson, Headteacher, St. Matthew’s C.E. Primary Research and Support School.

Families and communities: The aim here is that all families and communities, including those experiencing vulnerability, be supported to make reading and storytelling part of daily life.

This will be opened by Alex McCormick, Spellow Library fundraiser, followed by a panel chaired by Annie Crombie, Deputy CEO, BookTrust, with speakers including Sarah Thomas, CEO, Fostering Network, Lucy Peake, CEO, Kinship, Ruth Terry, Executive Director, Social Care & Practise, Bradford Children and Families Trust and Sally Pearse, Strategic Lead for Early Years and Director, Sheffield Hallam University.

Rachel De Souza, Children’s Commissioner for England, will close the summit with a keynote speech, and former Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell Children’s Laureate 2015-2017 will commemorate the day with special ‘behind the scenes’ live illustrations.

‘the longer we wait to address invisible privilege and inequality, the worse this becomes’

Frank Cottrell-Boyce says, ‘Working with BookTrust in these first six months of my Laureateship I’ve visited lots of early years settings and seen astonishingly brilliant practice. I understand now – more than ever – just how urgent it is that we re-reset the conversation about reading. To use a government phrase: ‘de-silo reading’.  Yes, it’s important for educational attainment. Yes, DCMS, it’s the most crucial – and most democratic – part of our cultural heritage. Shared reading is an effective, economic health intervention, so yes, it’s essential, Wes Streeting, to mental health, to bonding, to attachment, to creating a situation where parents and carers can give the best, the most joyous start in life to our children.

‘our children seem to be experiencing some kind of happiness recession at the moment’

‘New research from BookTrust demonstrates this urgent need for support: 6 in 10 parents and carers of 0–7-year-olds wish they had known earlier just how important it is to read and share stories regularly with their children, and wish they had started doing so sooner[1]. Our children are near the top of the global leagues when it comes to the mechanical skill of reading but near the bottom when it comes to ’reading for pleasure’. We’ve taught them all the steps and the names of all the tunes. But they’re not dancing. That our children seem to be experiencing some kind of happiness recession at the moment is not surprising, and I believe that the decline in reading too has played its part in this.

‘That’s why, as Children’s Laureate, I’ve worked with BookTrust to create this summit – together, we are going to discuss, share, challenge and develop our expertise and experiences. Together, we will develop a report that will help ensure the transformative gift of reading is shared with every single child. Because this is so, so doable but the longer we wait to address invisible privilege and inequality, the worse this becomes – more and more children fall further behind.’

A report summarising key learnings and policy recommendations from ‘The Reading Rights Summit’ will be published by BookTrust in spring 2025.

[1] BookTrust question included in Nielsen BookData’s Understanding the UK Children’s Book Consumer 2024 survey. Sample: 873 parents/carers of children aged 0–7.