Unlocking Reading Across the UK

Written by Guest User

by Mara Lusk

Introduction

Recent test results show UK teenagers reaching top global rankings in reading, science, and maths. But behind the headlines, teachers and families know the reality is different, as far too many young people are falling behind in everyday literacy.

While high-level test scores look promising, daily reading habits show a sharp decline:

  • Primary Outcomes: Approximately one in four children leave primary school not yet reading at the expected level.

  • Reading Engagement: The 2025 National Literacy Trust Annual Literacy Survey shows that only 32.7% of children and young people aged 8 to 18 enjoy reading in their free time, compared to a 42% international average.

  • Daily Habits: Daily reading habits show a similar decline, with just 18.7% of children and young people reading something every day in their free time in 2025.

Despite these challenges, literacy in the UK is far from over. Thanks to efforts like the National Year of Reading, things are starting to turn around, with youth reading enjoyment increasing by 3.4% since the start of this initiative. With the right, relationship-centred strategies, we can inspire a lifelong love of reading in every learner.

Simple Ways to Keep Young People Reading 

Encouraging reading isn't about forcing learners through traditional textbooks; it is about meeting them where they are and connecting reading to things they care about. 

Top Tips for Encouraging Reading:

  • Build on What They Already Love: Connect reading to the things young people enjoy outside of school, such as sports, music, gaming, fashion, or films.

  • Try Different Types of Reading: Remember that books aren't the only option. Graphic novels, magazines, audiobooks, and short online articles are all brilliant ways to help young people practise reading. 

  • Make It Social: Turn reading into a shared activity through book clubs, group reading, or listening to audiobooks together. 

  • Explore Free Local Events: Take advantage of activities at your local library, community story times, and summer reading challenges. Explore the National Year of Reading events page for reading-related events in your area.

  • Keep Up Easy, Daily Routines: Having a simple reading routine every day works wonders. The University of Sussex found that reading for just 6 minutes can reduce stress levels by up to 68%. 

  • Broadening Perspectives: Choosing books that reflect different cultures and lived experiences helps all learners enjoy reading and understand stories better. When children see themselves and their peers authentically represented in the pages they read, it nurtures empathy, builds belonging, and helps dismantle barriers to engagement. 

How We Support Learners to Excel

At Equal Education we deliver tailored, trauma-informed tuition to those who face the biggest barriers to learning. Our literacy support helps students rediscover the joy of reading through personalised 1:1 or group sessions that build foundational skills and lasting self-belief.

  • Tailored 1:1 Literacy Tuition: We match experienced, qualified teachers with young people to deliver personalised tuition. By adapting sessions to each learner’s reading age, hobbies, and learning preferences, our tutors help learners overcome gaps in phonics, vocabulary, and reading comprehension at their own pace.

  • Curriculum Alignment: For learners with a school place, tuition aligns directly with their school’s schemes of work, reinforcing classroom literacy goals in a supportive environment.

  • Inclusive Support: Our community of qualified teachers specialise in supporting learners with complex and intersecting needs through creative approaches to learning and lessons tailored to individual learners. 

  • Closing the Digital Gap: To ensure every learner can access remote tuition and interactive reading resources, we also tackle the digital divide by supplying managed devices directly to families and partners. 

Impact Stories & Case Studies 

While national data gives us the big picture, real progress happens at the individual level. 

The following real-world case studies demonstrate how consistent, relationship-led tuition can be transformational in supporting a learner with literacy:

Rebuilding Confidence Through Personalised Reading

Cooper, a Year 7 care-experienced learner, was working towards Year 5 literacy levels when he began his sessions. Initially timid and hesitant to read aloud, his reading was monotone and lacked vocal expression.

His tutor, Shirley, crafted relationship-led lessons tailored around his interests, even creating custom reading comprehension activities based on his favourite card game, UNO! Through this personal connection, Cooper's confidence transformed. His reading speed increased from 72 to 100 words per minute, and his self-rated confidence in literacy jumped from 3/5 to 5/5.

Unlocking Language and Belonging

When Amelia began working with Equal Education, she was learning English as an Additional Language (EAL), had missed two years of formal schooling and she needed flexible, dedicated support. 

Her tutor, Heather, worked closely with Amelia to  work on her language skills, starting with foundational phonics and working all the way up to constructing and reading full sentences! This consistent 1:1 support gave Amelia the confidence and courage she needed to get back into school regularly. 

Looking Ahead

These journeys and many others show that literacy challenges are never permanent when young people receive timely, empathetic, and bespoke support. By celebrating every milestone, from mastering sentence structures to reading aloud with pride, we can ensure that initiatives like the National Year of Reading create a lasting legacy of literacy, equity, and opportunity for every learner across the UK. Whether you are a school leader looking to expand capacity through targeted core curriculum support, a local authority commissioner seeking dedicated provision for care-experienced learners or children with SEND, or a parent or carer wanting to learn more about what we do, our team is always here to help, feel free to contact us on our website. 


Sources

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A Journey of Inclusion and Impact: Nadia’s Story