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.

Literacy resources for cultural events and 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 our 2024-2025 teaching events calendar for more inspiration.

Black History Month falls in October each year, and is a great time to learn about and celebrate Black history and heritage. However, Black history can, and should, be recognised...
Learn more about Black History Month resources.
Celebrate national Non-Fiction November in your classroom with our expertly curated guidance, booklists and classroom ideas.
Learn more about Non-Fiction November 2024.
Developed in partnership with the Royal British Legion, for 2024, we're providing poetry workshops and supporting resources, and producing the national live assembly, to...
Learn more about Remembrance 2024: teaching resources and activities.

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).

Nursery rhymes are extremely valuable to support language and communication skills, build confidence and prepare children for reading and writing as they get older!
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Play is crucial for developing children’s communication skills. Here are 10 reasons why it is so important.
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This booklet is filled with simple activities that can be completed at home, which will help families have fun, and encourage children to learn to speak and communicate too!
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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.

This Autumn, engage your students with the exciting World of Graphic Novels reading challenge and support their book choice, reading for pleasure and literacy skills.
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Our webinar series supports librarians and teachers to ensure that children have access to a library collection and reading experience is as diverse and inclusive as possible
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Explore films and activities to support comprehension, reading enjoyment, and empathy based on the mesmerising book Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun.
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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.

Sign up to our free, live-streamed Remembrance Assembly, bringing pupils together with others from across the UK on Monday 11 November.
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This Autumn, engage your students with the exciting World of Graphic Novels reading challenge and support their book choice, reading for pleasure and literacy skills.
Learn more
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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