Why this new government-led campaign matters and how Reading Fairy supports early
reading and beyond
2026 marks the launch of the National Year of Reading, a nationwide initiative designed
to inspire a love of reading across the UK. Led by the Department for Education and
National Literacy Trust, the campaign aims to encourage parents and carers to lead by example and
swap scrolling for reading.
Children’s reading enjoyment is at a record low and literacy gaps are widening, so this
campaign comes at a crucial time for our younger generation.
Why the National Year of Reading Is So Important
Recent research from The National Literacy Trust revealed that just one in three children aged 8 to 18 said they enjoyed reading in their free time. This highlights a significant drop
in children’s reading for pleasure. This stark fact matters because reading for pleasure
fuels imagination, wellbeing, social and emotional skills, confidence and academic and
career success.
The Literacy Gap Is Growing
Approximately one in four children leave primary school without reaching the expected
reading level. The National Year of Reading aims to close this gap by encouraging
families, schools, libraries, and communities to work together to support children’s literacy.
Helping Every Child Access the Joy of Books
The National Year of Reading puts a strong focus on supporting children from
disadvantaged backgrounds. By promoting reading role models, encouraging community
involvement, and increasing access to books, the campaign aims to give every child the
chance to thrive.
As an early year’s literacy programme, Reading Fairy is proud to support the National
Year of Reading by helping children build confidence, curiosity, and joy of reading from the
very start of life.
You can learn more about the benefits of our classes created by early reading educators
here.
Reading Fairy Founder Emily Guille-Marrett says:
“Reading Fairy is all about giving children the best start for reading for life so it’s wonderful
to be celebrating the National Year of Reading together in 2026. Book Bear, Chat Cat,
Music Mouse, Phonic Fox and Reading Fairy friends all look forward to sharing this special
year in our pre-school activity classes and on our social media sites.
Evidence shows that reading for pleasure directly impacts a child’s future academic
success, feelings of empathy towards others and well-being. Reading also encourages
independent, critical thinking — skills which we need to equip our children with now more
than ever due to the rise of fake news and AI slop.
In the spirit of the National Year of Reading launch campaign, which I was lucky enough to
be a part of at 10 Downing Street with the UK’s Secretary of State for Education, we will
‘Go all in’ at Reading Fairy and encourage our families to do the same!”
The National Year of Reading offers a powerful opportunity to reshape the future of
children’s literacy. By nurturing a love of reading from the earliest years, Reading Fairy is
proud to support this mission and help inspire the next generation of happy, confident
readers.
Interested in attending a class? Find your local franchise here:
https://www.wowworldgroup.com/find-a-class
