The importance of reading – Read On, Get On!
Can you remember learning to read? What is the importance of reading and how does it change lives?
I remember when the shapes of letters started to have meaning to me and I remember the thrill of reading books but also things like road signs.
My parents read to me and the house was full of books both fiction and non-fiction. Reading made me want to write and look where that took me. I read about Cambridge University when I was a little girl so when I was told I had an outside chance of getting in, I was inspired to work hard and to do so. I always remember my late mum saying it was impossible to be lonely if you had a good book.
My Mum left school aged 11 so used to get the Reader’s Digest and learn the meanings of new words. She had an amazing vocabulary and could hold her own in any company despite her very humble background.
Reading is the key to a child’s future: it unlocks their potential and opens up a world filled with possibilities and for our poorest children reading well is their best route out of poverty: they do better at school, better in the workplace and are better placed to give their own children the best start in life.
However, every year in the UK, 130,000 children, leave primary school not reading as well as they should. This figure includes 40% of all children from poorer backgrounds – a shockingly high proportion. This means over the next decade almost 1.5 million children will start secondary school already behind with dismal consequences for their futures. As if poverty is not soul-destroying enough, the lack of good literacy skills keeps children trapped where they are with little hope of moving forwards positively finding themselves unemployed or in low paid jobs.
Save the Children UK’s research has also found that the UK’s GDP could be an extra 2.1% higher by 2025 if we can get all our children reading well by age 11- the equivalent of £32.1 billion.
PETITION
I would love you to get behind the Read On Get On campaign – a national mission to ensure every child is a confident reader by age 11.
Act Now: Sign the petition calling on party leaders to make a commitment to get every child reading well at age 11 by 2025.
Here is the message to leaders
I call on you to make a commitment to get every child reading well at age 11 by 2025. Together, we will ensure that all children have a brighter future.
Together we can make sure that every child leaves primary school with the reading skills to shape a brighter future:
Find out more about the campaign
You have read this blog. You know the joy of reading. Take the time to sign the petition and play your part in fighting for a brighter future for our children.
If you sign the petition, you can then enjoy the amazing David Walliams reading you and your child a story.
What would you say is the importance of reading?
Kate Davis-Holmes
Award-winning writer, blogger, social media consultant and charity campaigner. Social Media Manager for BritMums, the UK's largest parent blogging network Freelance clients include Firefly Communications and Save the Children UK. Works with brands on marketing projects. Examples include Visit Orlando, Give As You Live, Coca-Cola and Kodak. Cambridge Law graduate with many years experience working across three sectors in advice, media relations, events, training and project management. Available for hire at affordable rates.
8 Comments
Carol
About sever years ago I was an infant volunteer at my daughter’s primary school and would often take children out for reading, I chose to take the children from the lower reading end as I felt that they needed the most help. Later when she joined high school I became a parent reader there too (for a year) and one morning a week I listened to student’s read for ten minutes. We were located in the library and they got to choose the book that they wanted to read. We were given guidelines for each child and wrote up a little report on their progress. I enjoyed it and feel that more schools should do this. They don’t have to be parent they can be aunties, uncles, grandparents anyone who has the time and passion to help young people.
Chantelle Hazelden
Reading is oh so important, I bought books for my kids before they were even born!! Thanks for sharing with #ReadWithMe
Yet Another Blogging Mummy
We’ve always made time for out loud reading at home and take the time to explain any words the boys have struggled with, plus feeding back to school via the reading record. Reading is a very important skill
Sarah MumofThree World
Thanks very much for highlighting this. I didn’t know the statistics were that depressing for poorer children. Reading really is so important!
Shell Louise
I didn’t know about this campaign. Thanks for sharing it. Reading is very important to everyone in our house. We’ve encouraged a love of books from when each baby was a few months old.
Catherine @ Story Snug
This is such an important campaign! Learning to read is such an important life skill. I’ve taught adult literacy and heard some heartbreaking stories about how and why some adults left school without being able to read.
#ReadWithMe
Acorn Books
Thanks for sharing this important campaign. Let’s hope it does some good #readwithme
Kate Davis-Holmes
I hope so too and thanks for your lovely comments.