Chapter One Impact Report 2023-24 - Flipbook - Page 7
IT
ALL STARTS
WITH LITERACY
Reading has the power to transform
futures. Yet, as our Theory of Change
shows (see pages 20-23), too many
children facing disadvantage struggle
with reading, affecting their ability to
thrive. Recent research reveals the scale
of this challenge.
A crisis in reading enjoyment
There is a wealth of evidence that
reading for pleasure is more strongly
correlated with academic progress than
parental education. But the National
Literacy Trust's 2024 survey reveals
deeply concerning trends:
Only 1 in 3 (34.6%) of children enjoy
reading - the lowest level since 2005
Just 20.5% read daily
Reading enjoyment has fallen by 8.8
percentage points in one year
The gender gap in reading
enjoyment has nearly tripled since
2023
Supporting our children in the crucial
early years
The early years are the most critical
time for developing literacy skills. Yet:
One quarter of five-year-olds did
not meet expected communication,
language and literacy skills in 202223, rising to one third of children in
our most deprived communities
The window to help children cement
fundamental reading skills is short missing it can make it almost
impossible to catch up
Widening inequalities
The cost-of-living crisis continues to
widen the reading gap:
Nearly 1 in 8 children aged 5-8 who
are in receipt of free school meals
don't own a single book (compared
with 1 in 13 of their peers)
The attainment gap starts at age
five with a 4.6-month difference,
growing to 10.3 months by the end
of primary school
Beyond the classroom
Research shows (see our evidence base
on page 23) that struggling readers
need more than classroom teaching
alone. They need access to engaging
materials, regular practice with
supportive adults and opportunities to
build confidence.
Why regular reading matters
Children who read regularly are more
likely to overcome disadvantage and
more likely to be happier, healthier and
have better mental wellbeing. They are
also more likely to develop empathy
and creativity and are better positioned
to make progress across the
curriculum. The scale of the reading
gap is so large that no single agency or
sector can tackle it alone. That's why
we've made it our mission to connect
children with caring adult volunteers for
effective, one-to-one reading support
at the time they need it most.
2023-24 Impact Report: The Need
07
