In February of this year, the National Literacy Trust declared a ‘literacy crisis’, with around 86% of the 458 constituencies in England having at least one ward with serious literacy issues*. This number is set to grow as families have been unable to access the right literacy support in the wake of the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis.

This shows how far-reaching the problem of low literacy is and with around ¼ of children leaving primary school unable to read well*, we know the detrimental impacts this can have on their education and beyond.

In this blog, we explore the extent of the literacy crisis and what can be done to address this issue for future generations.

The problem

The literacy crisis in the UK is alarming. The rate of poor literacy is up more than 20% compared to 2018/19 and it’s not slowing down:

Every year, it’s estimated that 200,000 children leave primary school at 11 unable to read or write to the required level.
According to the OECD, the UK now has the lowest rates of literacy of any developed nation.
7.1 million adults in England struggle with basic reading skills, like reading straight forward texts or obtaining information from everyday sources, affecting their ability to function effectively in day-to-day life.

The longer-term impacts

Early literacy struggles often snowball into more significant challenges as they progress through their education. We know this can inhibit children beyond primary school resulting in:

Lower qualifications at GCSE and A‑Level, lower higher education attendance, limited job prospects and poorer health outcomes.
The economic cost of poor literacy has been estimated to be £830 million for each school year group*.

One-to-one literacy support

Addressing the literacy crisis requires early intervention and targeted support. At Bookmark Reading charity, we run initiatives that focus on enhancing reading skills in primary schools. Providing support for struggling readers through one-to-one reading sessions can make a significant difference to children’s reading abilities and their overall academic success.

We know the difference this support can make for children who need it the most. We hear this from our volunteers and teachers, one of whom said: “I would say this is the BEST reading programme we have ever participated in. It allows the valuable 1:1 time to read, which staff in schools struggle to find in school. The volunteers are amazing, and the children truly love their sessions.”

Our impact report also found that 95% of teachers saw an increase in children’s reading confidence and 80% of teachers noticed an increase in reading skills. We have also identified further benefits that our programme has on children, including improving their motivation to read and their self-esteem.

The role of volunteers

At Bookmark Reading charity, we believe that every child should get a fair chance to succeed at school and beyond. But we need your help.

Volunteers play a crucial role in addressing the literacy crisis. The fantastic volunteers that dedicate their time to creating innovative approaches that make reading fun and engaging for children, can spark a lifelong love for books. Whether the sessions are online or in-person, the one-to-one support is essential to captivate young readers and encourage them to explore new stories and ideas.

Becoming a reading volunteer not only helps children improve their literacy skills but also fosters a shared responsibility for tackling the literacy crisis.

Poor literacy shouldn’t be the end of a child’s story. Help us change that. Learn about becoming a reading volunteer today .