Free literacy teaching resources

Browse reading activities and lesson ideas for a range of topics that will make teaching literacy and English more accessible and engaging for your students. See below for a selection of resources you can access for free.

Our resources are perfect for teachers and literacy practitioners in primary and secondary schools, and early years settings.

Discover highlights in the list below, or explore our full selection of resources.
To support families we also have a comprehensive web portal, grouped by age, with links to lots of free home-learning activities on Words for Life.

Free online classroom events in June and July

Join our free online workshop for pupils aged 14+ with Joseph Coelho.
Learn more about Poetry writing and Greek myths with Joseph Coelho.
Who is the Greatest Of All Time? The National Literacy Trust and Premier League Primary Stars invite you to learn all about the art of persuasion!
Learn more about The Great Debate: Who is the GOAT?.
Sign up to access an inspiring, free, pre-recorded workshop with award-winning author and performance poet Sophia Thakur.
Learn more about Reflection, celebration and future thinking with Sophia Thakur: for pupils in KS3, 4 & 5.

Free literacy resources for UK awareness days

Literacy teaching ideas, resources and reading activities spanning different ages and phases that align with key awareness and celebration dates in the planning calendar for schools and settings.

Explore the calendar

Image of children enjoying diverse books

Early years

Our early years resources and literacy activities will help schools, settings and parents support children’s development from birth to age 5 (EYFS).

A dynamic early years writing resource for practitioners, supporting you to enhance your provision.
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Guidance for supporting young children to build joyful experiences of books and stories alongside the skills they will need to develop to prepare them for reading.
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This booklet is filled with simple activities for ages 0 to 3 that can be completed at home, which will help families have fun, and encourage children to learn to speak and...
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Primary and cross-phase resources

We have a wealth of free resources and lesson plans available to support literacy teaching in primary schools.

Resources for pupils aged 3 to 14 to support learning and empathy in connection to Refugee Week.
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Continue to nurture a love of literacy beyond the classroom with ideas that will keep the spark of reading and writing enjoyment alive during the summer holidays.
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Use our drama-based learning sequence, created in partnership with Little Angel Theatre and Macmillan Children's Books, to explore and enjoy Charlie Cook’s Favourite...
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Secondary and cross-phase resources

Inspire and motivate pupils to support and improve literacy provision with English teachers resources and our secondary lesson ideas.

Classroom poetry writing activities inspired by Yoto Carnegie Medal winning title, The Boy Lost In The Maze by Joseph Coelho, for students aged 14 to 18 (KS4 - KS5).
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Resources for pupils aged 3 to 14 to support learning and empathy in connection to Refugee Week.
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Learn more about our reading programme for excluded secondary students with these sample resources.
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Key Stage literacy and reading resources

See filtered lists of:

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) literacy resources (Early level/Progression Step 1)
Key Stage 1 (KS1) literacy resources (First level/Progression Step 2)
Key Stage 2 (KS2) literacy resources (Second level/Progression Step 2-3)
Key Stage 3 (KS3) literacy resources (Third/fourth level/Progression Step 4)
Key Stage 4 (KS4) literacy resources (Senior phase/Progression Step 5)

More support for improving literacy in schools and settings

We provide a range of evidence-based training, interventions, programmes and resources to support teachers and practitioners to enable children to move forward and develop their skills.

Evidence-based CPD and inspiring conferences to help you evaluate, plan and take action to improve literacy outcomes in your setting.
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Highly engaging and evaluated programmes to improve reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in the UK's most disadvantaged communities.
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Evidence-based interventions for reading, writing and language development
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