The Education Committee has published its report on ‘Reading for Pleasure’, which recommends the government funds a library in every secondary school, recognises access to school libraries as an essential part of a good education and makes them a legal requirement.

MPs say ministers should introduce a school library development fund, so that schools refresh their shelves and train staff, and set an expectation for all schools to include dedicated library lessons in the school timetable.
 
MPs warn that the sharp decline in children reading for pleasure is not only an educational concern but a challenge for the whole of society. The Committee’s report cites evidence that reading for pleasure makes children happier, healthier, develops their empathy and improves their attainment at school. But the number of children currently reading for pleasure is very low, with just 36% of children saying they enjoy reading and a fifth saying they read daily in their free time, according to the National Literacy Trust.

The Committee calls for the government to commit to a National Reading Guarantee, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to enjoy books, stories and shared reading experiences as part of everyday life, from birth to adulthood.
 
It says this Guarantee should see every child automatically enrolled in a public library when they are born, should encompass early years support and childcare, school and public libraries, working together in a comprehensive Reading for Pleasure Strategy to reverse the decline in reading among children and young people. 
 
The Committee warns that the government’s current policies focus “overwhelmingly on proficiency over pleasure” and that without experiencing the fun and enjoyment of reading, or “the warmth of shared stories and the enchantment of turning pages”, children may not carry a love of reading into later life.
 
The Committee therefore recommends that ministers update the early years foundation stage profile and inspection framework to emphasise that reading should be focused on enjoyment. It also says the Department for Education should fund and deliver research into best practice in reading for pleasure for secondary school teachers and encourage breakfast clubs, as they are being rolled out across the country, to offer books and reading activities so that children can enjoy stories before the start of the school day.
 
The government could provide more support in its guidance for parents of young children, as a “quick win”, the Committee argues. MPs heard evidence that while many parents wanted to read to their children at home, they faced many barriers including pressure from work, a lack of time, and a lack of confidence. These were exacerbated for those living in poverty or facing food insecurity.
 
Chair of the Education Committee, Helen Hayes MP, said: “Our report sets out concrete steps the government can take to put pleasure and fun back into childhood reading. A National Reading Guarantee, better library access and curriculum reform would give the children the opportunity and motivation to find books that they love.
 
"None of this is inevitable. It’s time to write a new ending to this story and make reading for pleasure a possibility for every child.”