Reading for PleasureAn Overview following attendance at:

Encouraging and supporting reading – next

steps, policy options and school library

provision in England Westminster Forum with

Lord Tope: APPG Chair for Libraries

Lord Davis: APPG Chair for Literacy

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: Shadow

Spokesperson for Education, House of Lords

WHY?• “Poor literacy skills stand in the way of children and young people achieving their potential, businesses need to be able to recruit people with the right skills, the success of our economy is underpinned by literate and knowledgeable people.” Beating Heart of the School 2014

• “Reading books is the only out-of-school activity for 16-year-olds that is linked to getting a managerial or professional job in later life” Oxford University 2011

• In 2011 UK ranked 47th out of 65 countries based on how many children read for pleasure (APPG Report 2014)

• Reading for Pleasure has declined in the UK by 6% since 2012 (APPG Report 2014). Not at LVS! I’ll come on to that later

• Tablet use increased by 50%! (APPG Report 2014)

• Reading for Pleasure Policy now Ofsted requirement –SCB/NRR June 2014

WHAT is the impact of

a good school library?• International research demonstrates direct correlation between a good school library and higher student attainment APPG Report

• Making full use of the library and librarians is one of the ten principles of good practice for raising literacy levels that were set out by Ofsted in its 2013 report on “Improving Literacy in Secondary Schools”.

• School librarians and school libraries play an important role in supporting pupil literacy levels, enjoyment of reading, information literacy skills and access to knowledge, as well as their self‐esteem, confidence, sense of safety and wellbeing in the school community”. APPG Report

Robert Gordon University:

The Impact of School

Libraries on Learning3 main findings:

• Higher test or exam scores equating to academic attainment: this includes academic attainment in the form of higher standardised test scores in reading, language, arts, history and maths, and better grades in curriculum assignments or exams;

• Successful curriculum or learning outcomes, including information literacy: this includes higher quality project work, the development and practice of information literacy, increased knowledge and reading development; and

• Positive attitudes towards learning including increased motivation, improved attitude towards learning tasks, self‐esteem, and wider reading for pleasure

WHAT is a “good school

library”?• Professional body produced leaflets for parents,

governors and teaching staff

• Good use of professional staff

• Appropriate resources and equipment

• Welcoming and safe place

• Support and encouragement for reading

• Advice and instruction on using information in

today’s world

HOW can the library

support the school?• Reading is “normal” – everyone is a reader!

Normal=Powerful

• Reward and recognise reading

• Reading for Pleasure embedded in curriculum

• Outreach – staff and parents

• Leaders of Literacy – be involved in Teaching & Learning

• Enable digital fluency

• Encourage QUESTIONS about everything

• Inspire with stories and use of new technologies

• Provide opportunities for students to take responsibility

WHAT do we already do?National Literacy Survey at LVS

Year 7: How much do you enjoy reading?

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

2012 2013 2014

Very much/quite a lot

A bit

Not at all

WHAT do we already do?LRC Monitor structure

WHAT do we already do?• AR Reward structure

WHAT do we already do?• Reading lessons show importance of RfP

• Support for all KS3 pupils i.e. Reading Mentors

• Author/poet visits – Patron of Reading?

• Wide range of up-to-date reading material:

fiction, non-fiction, magazines, graphic novels &

picture books, quick reads, e-books

• Book clubs for all, local and national book

awards

• Regular events i.e. Poetry Day/Autumn Lit

Festival, Book Week

WHAT more can we do?• Through schools need through libraries!

• Improve rewards – Reading Reward ladder?

• Year 8/9 more regular visits – in discussion with English

• Formalise Reading Log – in discussion with English

• Involve parents more – Open Evening, Workshops & talks, Home/School Agreement

• More structured EAL provision

• More reading aloud in school – Storytelling?

• More use of new technologies: Fakebook, Skype.

• Take the library out of the library!

HOW can the school

implement the Reading for

Pleasure Policy?• All staff to have reading material displayed – “My favourite book” or “I am currently reading..”

• Provide subject reading lists for “reading around”

• Every subject to detail RfP in SoW

• Expectation for ALL pupils to have reading book at all times (tutors/parents)

• Regular reading time in school week – DEAR, tutor?

• Open evenings/workshops for parents

• INSET/training on RfP

Bibliography

Encouraging Reading for Pleasure

Westminster Forum, 11th February 2015

The Beating Heart of the School: APPG for

Libraries Report 2014

The Impact of School Libraries on Learning:

Robert Gordon University 2013

Clark, Christina, Setting the Baseline: Reading

Report, London: National Literacy Trust, 2011.

Finch, Dawn, CILIP Vice-President, 2015

Quant, Sarah, HoD English LVS 2015