Read our latest blog posts covering a wide range of literacy issues, written by members of the National Literacy Trust staff.
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Every year, as parents and educators, we look to Key Stage 2 national curriculum assessment results as a benchmark of how well children are reading as they move from primary to secondary school.However, recent changes in national...
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The earlier children develop good reading and writing skills, the better their chances are of doing well at school, getting a skilled job and living a successful life. But with , far too many children are having their futures cut short...
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We’ve rounded up some ideas to support your child’s language this festive seasonChristmas is right around the corner. Between all the shopping, cooking, parties and chocolate-eating, our children’s learning can get put on hold. We know...
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Property company British Land is one of the signatories for the 2017 Vision for Literacy Business Pledge. Leading businesses have committed to helping raise literacy levels in the UK by taking clear action in three areas: within their...
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On Christmas Day, many children will be lucky enough to discover a whole new world of adventures, meet new people and learn about the past as they unwrap the gift of a new books, waiting for them under the Christmas tree. But for...
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Transforming pupils’ approach to writing and readingYoung storytellers is a new programme from Amazon and the National Literacy Trust which explores self-publishing in education. Last year, I ran the programme in the school where I work...
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Young people in the UK are our workforce of the future but they have some of the poorest literacy skills in the world.We know that the earlier children develop good reading and writing skills, the better their chances are of doing well...
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Our National Literacy Trust Hubs prove the power of local community initiatives. Since the launch of our first Hub in Middlesbrough in 2013, and subsequent Hubs in Bradford, Peterborough and Stoke-on-Trent, our work has had a...
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Danny’s story takes a turn…November 4thIt should have been amazing. It should have been one of the best days of my life. And my dad’s life. But it wasn’t. It was one of the worst.Barcelona. The Camp Nou Stadium. Catalonia, Spain.We made...
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We review the recent research on early language and the home learning environmentA focus on early language and the importance of the home learning environment has had a resurgence of support in 2017. In England, the Department for...
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This week, helicopters and Barcelona…Monday 23rd OctoberI’ve not written for a week. I’m sorry. After it looked like I was being shot at from a helicopter in the park, I thought I needed a rest. It felt like I was losing my nerve.Do you...
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This week, 14 year-old football detective Danny Harte gets summoned… to RussiaMonday 9 OctoberAnton Holt collected me at 4.30 a.m. on the dot. It took an hour to drive to Manchester airport. The roads were really busy with loads of...
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The Premier League launch a new writing competition as part of their commitment to the Vision for Literacy Business Pledge.The Premier League is one of the signatories for the 2017 Leading businesses have committed to helping raise...
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This week, 14-year-old football detective Danny Harte receives a mysterious phone call…Monday 2 OctoberCharlotte was fine. I have to say that first. Just so you know. Because I wasn’t sure she would be.After I’d waited for her at the...
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This week Danny is having a few days off, so Tom Palmer is taking over to blog a little about how his life is dominated by reading and writing about sport — and other things.Reading about sportI read a lot about sport online. Sometimes...
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Starting secondary school can be especially tough for students who struggle with literacy — here’s how to give them a voice.Transitioning from primary to secondary school is often a challenging and worrying time for young people. Even...
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14-year-old football detective Danny Harte watches the Lionesses and finds himself worrying about his friend’s safety. And you, blog reader, need to make a choice…Monday 18 SeptemberMonday. School. Spent the evening in doing all my...
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14-year-old football detective Danny Harte goes to London and sees an old friend…Monday 11th SeptemberLong day at school. But Monday always feels like that, doesn’t it?There was a school trip to London coming up on Thursday and Paul,...
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A blog by Tom Grayson, co-founder of EbookadabraFour in 10 school kids own their own smart phone and tablet — a number that’s rising. And the amount of time spent on screens for five to 15 year olds is almost 14 hours per week.These are...
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the leading global illustrated book publisher, is one of the signatories for the 2017 Vision for Literacy Business Pledge. Leading businesses have committed to helping raise literacy levels in the UK by taking clear action in three...
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14-year-old football detective Danny Harte watches England v Slovakia.Monday 4th SeptemberEngland v Slovakia at Wembley on a Monday night. And not just any Monday night: it was the night before the first day of the school year. But I...