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Schools and early years settings: the National Year of Reading 2026

National Year of Reading Schools and Early Years Settings Offer

Welcome to the official schools and early years setting offer for the National Year of Reading 2026 and the Go All In campaign. Our collective aim for 2026 - to reimagine reading and (re)engage with reading in all its forms.

In 2026, we’re inviting the nation to Go All In and discover how reading print and digital novels, non-fiction and poetry, exploring comics, magazines and graphic novels, or listening to audiobooks can unlock more of what we love. Together, we’ll re-engage one of the most powerful tools for equity and opportunity: a lifelong love of reading.

The role of schools and early years settings

Teachers, librarians and all education practitioners - you are at the heart of children and young people’s reading experiences whether you are involved in early years, primary or secondary education and whatever your subject focus.

Throughout 2026, join us for termly cycles of high-quality professional learning for you and memorable content for your pupils and students. Please note, termly activity will be released a term in advance. While you'll get the most out of activity by joining live, if you miss anything or start your journey later on in the year, you can catch up on recordings of all events, as well as download past resources.

For any questions, email NYRschools@literacytrust.org.uk

Calendars, resources and starter toolkit

Download resources and ready-to-use-assets for the term you're completing. Plus, view our calendar for the current term to discover key dates to help you plan effectively and join activity live.

New resources released termly: Each term throughout 2026, we’ll release fresh resources aligned with our theme for that term. Summer term resources are now live!

DOWNLOAD YOUR RESOURCES
Children reading outdoors

How to take part in the offer?

Find new ways to embed reading for pleasure into your core language, practice and leadership priorities through a flexible programme of tools, resources, activities and events. There are two options to get involved:

Option 1: Join the Learning Management System for free

If you're a whole school or setting, this is the easiest way to pick and choose which activity you want to take part in, as well as catch up on everything that's happened so far. How it works:

  1. Nominate a colleague to be your National Year of Reading representative and register with their details to our learning management system for free.
  2. The representative will be emailed with details on how to access the account where your whole school or setting will follow a guided journey of the offer each term.
  3. Start exploring what's on offer for your phase each term. You can also take part in a participatory award with prizes!

The platform holds everything you need for the year in one place, as well as gives you exclusive access to partner offers such as free reading materials.

How to access

If you're already registered, you can log in to your account here.

NEW TO THE SYSTEM? SIGN UP TO THE LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM HERE
Children screaming with excitement

Option 2: Termly individual activity sign-up

If you are not a whole school or setting, you can sign up to individual events and download resources for the current term below. Webinars and events from previous terms are recorded and held on a playlist on the National Literacy Trust's YouTube channel to watch back.

Please note that the summer term Go All In Together! moments will take place in May and June. More details including how to sign-up will be coming soon.

Spring Term

May (Summer Term)

June (Summer Term)

July (Summer Term)

  • 06 July. Hear from leading experts, take part in engaging workshops, and gain practical approaches to developing a sustainable reading culture in your setting.
    Explore more
  • 09 July. Publishers Every Cherry and Barrington Stoke will share insights into books that support a wide range of readers, including those who may face barriers such as...
    Sign up

What to expect each term in 2026

A core programme of activity will delivered by the National Literacy Trust with complementary projects and offers from key partners. Termly activity will be released a term in advanced. Throughout 2026, there will be a termly cycle of:

  • Go All In Together Events

    Live and recorded events every half-term featuring exciting names to celebrate literacy and reading, together across the nation.

  • Professional development support

    Webinars, resources and toolkits across Early Years Settings, Primary and Secondary.

  • In-person events

    Phase specific national conferences and local events across the UK to build a movement.

More content

Our education offer for the National Year of Reading will develop and deepen throughout the year, with three distinct focuses aligned to the three terms in 2026:

  • Spring term 2026: The Room

    Helping teachers and practitioners understand best practice in developing a reading for pleasure culture with their children and young people.

  • Summer term 2026: The Setting

    Equipping teachers, practitioners and leaders to build a lasting culture of reading for pleasure across your setting or school.

  • Autumn term 2026: The Community

    Empowering schools and settings to become centres of reading in their communities, working with parents and families and crucially local public libraries.