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Family Reading Campaign

The National Literacy Trust launched the Family Reading Campaign on Monday 15 January 2007. The campaign, a partnership coordinated by the National Literacy Trust on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills, was formally announced at a special event at The Oval Cricket Ground in south London. The event was hosted by BBC news presenter Huw Edwards and attended by DfES Minister for Children, Young People and Families, Parmjit Dhanda.

The Family Reading Campaign aims to ensure that:

  • All families see reading as an important part of their daily lives and part of the culture of their home.
  • Parents and carers find time to read regularly with their younger children.
  • Reading for pleasure is recognised as an important part of the process of learning to read.
  • Young people feel comfortable about being seen to enjoy reading.
  • Reading in the home is encouraged and supported by schools, the local community, the business community, the media and wider society.

For more information on the Family Reading Campaign please click here. 

To read the press release, please see below.

Making every home a reading home (15/01/2007)

This new year, parents are being urged to give their children a gift that money can’t buy – time to read together. The Family Reading Campaign, which is launching on 15 January, is the first campaign of its kind, bringing together key organisations from the education, library and parenting sectors to promote the importance of reading in the home. The campaign is coordinated by the National Literacy Trust (NLT) on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

According to an NLT report on research into reading for pleasure due to be released in January, most parents are aware of the importance of sharing books with their children. But one in five pupils interviewed in an NLT survey last year felt that their mother did not encourage them to read, while one in three pupils reported they received no encouragement from their father.

The Family Reading Campaign aims to ensure that more children experience the benefits of reading with their family. It is a strategic campaign that is working to integrate the importance of reading in the home into the planning and activity of all its partner organisations.

Julia Strong, Director of the National Reading Campaign, commented:

“Sharing books together has so many benefits for families. Parental involvement in reading has more of an influence on children’s achievement than any other factor – including how well educated or rich their parents are. And parents are a child’s first educator. The Family Reading Campaign aims to strengthen this message and make every home a reading home and every child a reader.”

DfES Skills Minister Phil Hope welcomed the launch of the Family Reading Campaign. He commented:

“I’m delighted that so many organisations have set their sights on strengthening family reading. Reading in the home can support learning for both parents and children and, importantly, it can be a lot of fun too. Encouraging families to read and learn together is crucial if we are to improve the skills levels of the nation. Any parent who wants to improve their reading skills can call our helpline on 0800 66 0800 and find out about free courses in their local area.”

Report urges families to read together

A new report from the National Literacy Trust calls for parents, teachers and policy makers to take reading for pleasure seriously. The report, released to mark the launch of the Family Reading Campaign on 15 January 2007, provides an overview of research into reading for pleasure. It stresses the impact that reading for pleasure can have on both educational and social development.

Key findings were:

  • Schools should not be held solely responsible for promoting reading to children. Taking part in reading activity at home helps children become strong and motivated readers. 
  • Children need the people around them to set a reading example so that they think of reading as something enjoyable to engage with.
  • Children who enjoy reading see themselves as part of a “reading community”, in which they talk about and share a love of books.

To download the report please click here. 

For more information about the Family Reading Campaign please click here.