Primary | National Literacy Trust

Primary programmes

Our primary programmes help children to read for pleasure, use sport to inspire pupils and support primary school libraries.

Love our Libraries

Love our Libraries provides online training, resources and research for those working in school libraries.
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NewsWise

Through NewsWise, we help teachers empower pupils to access, understand, analyse and participate in the news.
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Premier League Primary Stars

Use the appeal of the Premier League and professional football clubs to inspire children to learn, be active and develop important life skills.
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Shooting Stars

We’re inspiring young girls to get active and learn about football through the magic of storytelling.
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Young Poets

Young Poets gives pupils the opportunity to visit famous cultural venues in their city, using the visits to inspire poetry.
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Young Readers Programme

Reading for enjoyment is key to improving literacy skills. The Young Readers Programme runs fun events where children can choose books to take home and keep.
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Words for Work: Dream Big

Together schools and local businesses support Key Stage 1 pupils to develop their literacy skills, raise aspirations and challenge stereotypes.
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Reading Champions

Our national reading campaign that supports and celebrates reading culture within schools.
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Primary resources

We have a wealth of free and membership resources available to support literacy teaching in primary school.

Resource
Primary Literacy Guide and Review 2020/21

A compilation of recent research and policy developments in primary literacy to support evidence-based practice.

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Resource
Developing grammar subject knowledge for practitioners

Refresh and secure subject knowledge of grammar across all staff with these presentations.

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Resource
Developing a whole-school reading environment for primary schools

These resources for primary teachers provide practical tips and ideas for inspiring a vibrant whole-school reading environment.

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Primary training and conferences

We offer primary CPD and training courses designed to give teachers innovative strategies and practical ideas to support literacy in the classroom.

Through our primary conferences we celebrate best practice and explore the issues most significant to primary practitioners.

Featured courses and events

Primary Conference: Literacy by Stealth 24-26 November

A panel of experts will share insights on the wealth of cultural experiences which can enhance spoken language, reading and writing.
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Building vocabulary and early language

Build an understanding of direct vocabulary instruction in reception and Key Stage 1
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Improving Writing in Key Stage 2

This course helps teachers develop strategies to take their Key Stage 2 pupils beyond scaffolded writing and tackle challenges across different text types.
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Reading for Pleasure CPD

Engage with research and develop sustainable strategies to embed a culture of reading in your school and classroom.
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Primary conferences

Our primary conferences celebrate best practice and explore the issues most significant to primary practitioners.
Learn more

See all primary training

Find upcoming primary training dates on our events page.

Related Research

Research
Children and young people’s letter writing in 2021

This report outlines children and young people's letter writing attitudes in behaviours, and how they were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Research
Children and young people’s reading engagement in 2021

This report outlines children and young people's feelings about reading in early 2021, a period that coincided with the third national lockdown in the UK.

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Research
Exploring the impact of World Book Day on the reading lives of children in the UK 2019-2021

This report, commissioned by World Book Day, captures children’s perceptions of how the event supports their reading opportunities and influences their developing reading identities.

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Reading Champions Challenges

We run exciting reading challenges every term to inspire young people and help to build a reading for pleasure culture in schools, as well as developing reading stamina and increasing reading diversity.

See our current Reading Champions Challenge.

Love our Libraries

NewsWise

Premier League Primary Stars

Shooting Stars

Young Poets

Young Readers Programme

Words for Work: Dream Big

Reading Champions

Primary Conference: Literacy by Stealth 24-26 November

Building vocabulary and early language

Improving Writing in Key Stage 2

Reading for Pleasure CPD

Primary conferences

Find upcoming primary training dates on our events page.

Reading Champions Challenges

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