As the clock ticks down to Christmas Day, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has expressed her hopes that children across the country find a book in their stocking, after figures from the National Literacy Trust showed nearly one in eight children has never been given a book as a present.
This figure rises to nearly one in five disadvantaged pupils, meaning many potential ‘Matildas’ may be discouraged from reading outside the classroom and missing out on the chance to build their confidence in reading. The latest key stage two results show 83% of disadvantaged pupils achieved the expected level or above in reading by the end of primary school, compared to 92% of non-disadvantaged pupils.
The survey of 32,000 children and young people aged eight to 18 by the National Literacy Trust also suggests girls are more likely to find a book in their Christmas stocking this year – with 86% saying they had received one as a present compared to 79% of boys, showing misplaced gender stereotypes around reading may be influencing present purchases.
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said: “I hope children across the country have the joy of opening a book this Christmas.
“No other gift can transport you from ancient Egypt to the outer reaches of space, introduce you to kings, queens, wizards and elves, make you laugh, take you on an adventure or change the way you see the world, all through the power of words.
“Encouraging all children to read widely and read well is a vital part of this government’s commitment to extending opportunity for all - the gift of a book this Christmas will not only provide hours of reading enjoyment, but will help set a child up for the rest of their life.”
While the reading charity’s fifth annual survey, published earlier this year, showed enjoyment and frequency of reading are both at their highest levels for nine years, too many children may still miss out on unwrapping a new story to enjoy this Christmas.
National Literacy Trust Director Jonathan Douglas said: “We are urging everyone to give the gift of reading this Christmas so more children can discover the joy of books. The more a child reads, the better their writing is likely to be as well as their speaking and listening skills. Literacy empowers children, particularly from the most disadvantaged communities, to do better at school and beyond, transforming their life chances.”
As part of this government’s one nation agenda, the Department for Education wants all children to be introduced to the classics of English literature, especially if these books are not on their bookshelves at home. The Department is calling on all publishers to make low cost copies of classic novels available to secondary schools, giving more children the chance to read great literary works. Well-known children’s book publishers Penguin has suggested 100 books from their Black Classics that they could make available for low prices, and Scholastic has offered to give schools 26 books for as little as £1.50 a copy.
