By Jody Sayce, Deputy Head Academics in Primary at Caxton College

For the last three years, we have been focusing on reading development in Primary. We have been looking at the pedagogy of teaching of reading, including reading for pleasure, as well as making reading as visible and accessible as we can. Books are at the heart of learning in Primary, not just as the basis for reading and writing (in English and Spanish), but in Values Assemblies and increasingly in our wider curriculum. This year we made Reading for Pleasure (RfP) more of a focus for homework to help free up time for children to read solely for pleasure, without the associated tasks that can often stifle the motivation to read.

Why is reading for pleasure so important? Here are just six of the many reasons:

1. Reading helps us to see things from other people’s perspectives, leading to greater empathy and improved social understanding.

2. RfP is linked to lower levels of emotional difficulties, helping to reduce stress and promote relaxation.

3. Establishing RfP early in life is associated with less screen time during adolescence, suggesting it helps set healthier, non-digital leisure habits.

4. Reading or listening to books read aloud helps to build sustained attention and working memory, like a workout for our brains!

5. The human brain is naturally inclined to understand and remember stories, a finding central to the work of Daniel Willingham. Information presented as a narrative is much more likely to be retained in long-term memory than simple facts.

6. RfP leads to significantly improved reading comprehension, grammar, and wider vocabulary, which underpins all literacy skills. It is also linked to improved performance in all academic areas, including mathematics.

We will be following up with some feedback from pupils, families and teachers, but what has been lovely to see in the first term of this academic year has been more children walking around school with a book in their hands. They always respond really enthusiastically when asked about their book choice.

In the wonderful words of Dr Seuss,

The more that you

READ, the more things

you will KNOW.

The MORE that you

LEARN, the more places

you’ll GO.