Research and Guidance

Boost your knowledge Find all the latest research into reading for pleasure and how-to guides from teachers, authors, illustrators, and educational experts.
Storytime in School Find out what happened when 20 primary schools across England read to their classes every day.

Storytime in School - a year on Revisit the schools who trialled daily story time one year on.

Dads Make Stories Magic Hear from the amazing dads who took part in our study in collaboration with Dadsnet exploring the powerful impact of daily storytime.

Stories and Choices Discover the impact of schools prioritising storytelling and reading for pleasure in an area of deprivation in this 2018 research study.

Reading for Pleasure and Purpose Discover the latest research, resources and top tips from our teacher ambassadors, recommended book lists and much more!

Learnings from Lockdown Learn more about about the impact of lockdown on children’s reading for pleasure.

Lockdown Reading Club Empower your parents and learn more about the impact of reading for pleasure at home with this lockdown reading study in collaboration with mumsnet.

Print Matters More Read how we tried to convert reluctant readers into book lovers with this research project in collaboration with Foyles.

Reading Magic Project Hear why reading to 3-4 year olds is in decline and what can be done to encourage reading for pleasure before children enter school.

Print Matters Read how we measured emotional responses to reading from parents and children with this project conducted in collaboration with Family Kids and Youth and The University of Sussex.

Book Squad – the low down

Everything you need to know about Book Squad and how it can help you develop a love of reading in your school.

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Creating accessible reading spaces Support every child to become a reader with advice and tips for creating inspirational and accessible reading spaces in your classrooms.

Farshore’s guide to reading for pleasure All the information you need on the positive impact of reading for pleasure, tips from teachers, recommendations of books and much more.

Break down the barriers to reading Hear how Barrington Stoke books inspire reluctant readers in school and at home.

Let’s talk about it: Reading for Pleasure and book talk

Keen readers give themselves daily lessons in life. Through reading, they imagine and experience other worlds, develop empathy for others’<span class="NormalTextRun SCXW81393770...

7 min

20/06/2024

The Reading Framework 2023: A summary

Are you keen to better understand the 2023 Reading Framework? Looking to make sure your reading provision is up to scratch? Here we’ll talk you through the framework, its contents and guidance, giving you the confidence to take it forward into your...

9 min

20/06/2024

Storytime in the Classroom: Engaging the most reluctant readers

Engaging reluctant readers is a difficult task as a teacher, especially with other curriculum priorities. Storytime, though, can really inspire the...

5 min

20/06/2024

"Developing a reading for pleasure culture within school is the most important thing we can do as leaders and practitioners. Books should be at the heart of everything, alongside social reading spaces that nurture and help develop a love of reading. Investing in your reading for pleasure culture strengthens not just your immediate school community but the wider community too."

Fern Pithers, Assistant Headteacher, EYFS and KS1 Lead, English Lead, Year 2 Teacher, Warren Primary Academy. Warren Primary Academy was joint winner of the Whole School Award, 2023.

Book Squad – the low down

From the Book Squad blog

Let’s talk about it: Reading for Pleasure and book talk

The Reading Framework 2023: A summary

Storytime in the Classroom: Engaging the most reluctant readers

Reading for pleasure in action

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