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 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 teaching events calendar for more inspiration.

To celebrate Earth Day in 2024, taking place on Monday 22 April, we have created classroom resources for pupils aged 4 to 14 which aim to develop key literacy skills.
Learn more about Earth Day 2024.
Supporting schools and early years settings with literacy teaching resources to help enrich your lessons linking to literacy moments and awareness days throughout the academic year.
Learn more about Literacy teaching and school events calendar 2023-2024-2025.

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).

The set of cards are designed to support parents and carers of 0 to 5-year-olds to talk and play more with their children while they are out and about.
Learn more
Support early years children to tell more stories in your setting by using these top tips.
Download
This easy-to-read guide now comes in 22 languages and is full of suggestions for how parents can support their young child's learning at home.
Learn more

Primary and cross-phase resources

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

Sample resource from our intervention designed to increase the writing skills and confidence of children in Key Stage 2 using self-motivation and metacognitive skills.
Learn more
Explore films and activities to support comprehension, reading enjoyment, and empathy based on the mesmerising book Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun.
Learn more
Our Refugee and Migrant stories booklist celebrates the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary.
Learn more

Secondary and cross-phase resources

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

Literacy teaching ideas and activities to celebrate International Women's Day 2024.
Learn more
Learn more about our reading programme for excluded secondary students with these sample resources.
Learn more
Classroom poetry writing activities inspired by The Boy Lost In The Maze by Waterstone's Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho for students aged 14-18 (KS4 - KS5)
Learn more

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.
Learn more
Highly engaging and evaluated programmes to improve reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in the UK's most disadvantaged communities.
Learn more
Evidence-based interventions for reading, writing and language development
Learn more