'Our work to get children reading has never been more urgent'

We all know how important the early years are for children’s development – and how much these early experiences shape future outcomes. At BookTrust we also know that reading and sharing stories from an early age has a crucial role to play, bringing lifelong benefits for children’s health, wellbeing and education. The last year has seen growing evidence of the impact of the pandemic in terms of lost learning, damage to mental health and the widening attainment gap. Our work to get children reading, particularly those facing disadvantage, has never been more urgent.

Which is why BookTrust’s Storytime pilot, designed to encourage families with children aged 0-5 to share stories and visit their local library, couldn’t have been more timely. Developed in collaboration with local authorities, libraries and families on low incomes, the initiative was delivered in over 2,300 libraries in England and Northern Ireland in autumn 2021, reaching thousands of families with story sharing experiences, books, activities and resources. Delivered at a time when many libraries were starting to re-open after a period of restrictions due to Covid-19, the pilot helped library staff reconnect with their local communities and support more children to experience the benefits of reading.