Changing children’s futures through literacy support

International Day of Education is a celebration of the role of education for peace and development. Education is the foundation of opportunity and reading is a fundamental skill that can shape a child’s future. But many children from disadvantaged communities face barriers to learning because they lack the reading skills necessary to succeed in school and beyond. 

This International Day of Education, we celebrate the power of one-to-one reading support in giving every child the opportunity to thrive. We also share Lauren’s story, a university student who volunteers with Bookmark to help children to improve their literacy.

Why literacy matters

Reading is a gateway to lifelong learning, academic achievement and brighter futures. From gathering information to understanding exam instructions, literacy skills are important for successfully navigating school and earning the qualifications needed for higher education and future employment.

The literacy crisis in England

Sadly, poor literacy remains a significant issue in the UK, especially in disadvantaged areas:

• One in four children in England leave primary school unable to read well*.
• Children from lower-income households are around 4.6 months behind their peers from higher-income households in literacy skills – by the end of primary school, this gap grows to around nine months*.
• Low reading levels are one of the biggest challenges pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds face in their academic achievements*.
• Poor literacy is a major barrier to equal access and participation in higher education. With pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds 2.5 times less likely to go to higher education compared to all other pupils*. 

For many children, the barriers to literacy are not their fault. Some children may face limited access to resources, disrupted schooling or challenges at home, which can all play a part in widening the literacy gap. More needs to be done to make sure pupils can develop the skills and qualifications they need to reach their full potential.

How we’re closing the literacy gap

Our volunteer-led programme aims to bridge this literacy gap by providing one-to-one reading support for children who are at risk of falling behind. 

These face-to-face or online sessions can help children become confident readers and communicators, while building the essential skills they need to thrive in school and beyond. 

Meet Lauren: a volunteer making a difference

Lauren, a university student and Bookmark volunteer, knows the transformative power of reading. 

Lauren was motivated to apply to be a volunteer after drawing on her own love of reading throughout her childhood. As an undergraduate student, her decision to support children struggling with reading comes from understanding how crucial literacy skills are for personal development and future opportunities.

She said: ​“I thought it was such a nice thing to give back and help other children read, especially because I get so much out of it and thought it was such a shame for children that struggle”.

With a large number of children leaving primary school unable to read well, volunteers like Lauren play a significant role in boosting literacy skills, driving engagement in books and increasing confidence among young readers.

Building reader confidence

Lauren describes how hesitant and quiet children often become more engaged and confident as they progress in their reading abilities.

She said: ​“I really enjoy seeing the pupil improve over the weeks and their confidence is a really nice this as well… [my favourite part is] seeing them go through and enjoying reading”.

More than 83% of our partner schools have reported growth in confidence as a fundamental outcome of their reading sessions*. 

This confidence boost not only enhances literacy skills, but also prepares children for some of the academic challenges of higher education.

Celebrate International Day of Education

Through our One-to-one Reading Programme, we want all children to have access to inclusive and quality education and lifelong opportunities. 

Celebrate this special day with us and sign up to become a reading volunteer. With your help, we can give children the chance to succeed and thrive in school and beyond.

Sources

*National Literacy Trust (2021). The Literacy Gap: Evidence from Key Stage 2 Reading Outcomes. Retrieved from https://​lit​er​acytrust​.org​.uk 

*Internal research by Bookmark Reading Charity.

*Barber, A. T., & Klauda, S. L. (2020). How Reading Motivation and Engagement Enable Reading Achievement: Policy Implications. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 7(1), 27 – 34. https://​doi​.org/​1​0​.​1​1​7​7​/​2​3​7​2​7​3​2​2​1​9​8​93385

*‘Reading Motivation vis-s-vis Academic Performance’ written by Elysha S. Alvarado, Cerenio Adriatico, published by Open Journal of Social Sciences, Vol.7 No.6, 2019. Https://​doi​.org/​1​0​.​4​2​3​6​/​j​s​s​.​2​0​1​9​.​76007

*National Literacy Trust, 2006.

* The Endowment Foundation, 2023.

*Government Statistical Office, 2023.