New National Year of Reading launching January 2026
Children’s reading is to become a “shared national mission” said Jonathan Douglas, CEO of the National Literacy Trust at the launch of a new National Year of Reading starting in January 2026.
The Department for Education and National Literacy Trust are joining forces on the campaign which is intended to bring together parents, schools, libraries, businesses and literacy experts in order to foster a love of reading for pleasure in children and young people, ensuring all children get the best start in life. With NLT reports showing a steep decline in reading for pleasure among young people, the Year will build on action already underway to drive high and rising standards in literacy including investing £27.7 million to support the teaching of reading and writing in primary school and targeted support for struggling readers in secondary school, this in addition to the ongoing curriculum and assessment review.
The campaign will feature school and community events and activities supported by a dedicated website and is backed by over 30 organisations so far including Premier League, Julia Rausing Trust, Arts Council England, the Reading Agency and a range of publishers.
Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson urged parents to do their part, saying, ‘Reading holds the keys to so much of children’s education, so the decline in reading for pleasure among young people should sound alarm bells loud and clear.
This can’t be just a government mission. It needs to be a national one. So, it’s time for all of us to play our part, put our phones down and pick up a book.
When parents take the time to read with their children early on, they lay the foundations for strong literacy skills, helping kids to be school ready. By making reading a daily habit, even just 10 minutes a day, we can help give kids the best start in life, as part of the Plan for Change.’
To start the campaign, the National Literacy Trust will distribute over 72,000 new books to children in areas with the highest rates of child poverty to support positive reading habits at home.
Find out more on the DfE website.
Charlotte Hacking considers this issue in the recent edition of Books for Keeps.
