She has written an open letter, backed by former laureates Michael Rosen, Quentin Blake and Malorie Blackman, in which she calls on Boris Johnson to ring-fence funding for library spaces in primary schools to help reverse the spiralling inequality in education.
The letter highlights the underfunding of England’s primary school libraries, with research showing one in eight primaries has no library space at all – a statistic that doubles in schools with a higher proportion of children on free school meals.
Ms Cowell says this lack of provision means millions of children, particularly those from the poorest communities worst hit by the pandemic and whose parents cannot afford books at home, are missing out on the vital benefits of reading for pleasure. She points to decades of research showing the importance reading for pleasure has a huge impact on a child’s educational development, health and well-being, personal growth and future prospects.’
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