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15 January 2007
This new year, parents are being urged to give their children
a gift that money can't buy - time to read together. The Family
Reading Campaign, launched on 15 January, is the first campaign
of its kind, bringing together key organisations from the
education, library, parenting sectors and beyond to promote
the importance of reading in the home. The campaign is delivered
by the National Literacy Trust's National Reading Campaign
on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.
According to the latest National Literacy Trust report on
research into reading for pleasure, most parents are aware
of the importance of sharing books with their children. The
report, Reading for Pleasure: an overview, also states
that:
- Schools should not be held solely responsible for promoting
reading to children. Taking part in reading activity at
home helps children become strong and motivated readers.
- Children need the people around them to set a reading
example so that they think of reading as something enjoyable.
- Children who enjoy reading see themselves as part of
a "reading community", in which they talk about
and share a love of books.
The Family Reading Campaign aims to ensure that more children
experience the benefits of reading with their family. It is
a strategic campaign working to integrate the importance of
reading in the home into the planning and activity of all
its partner organisations.
Families Minister Parmjit Dhanda who will be attending the
launch comments,
"We all share a duty to do everything we can to help
children make the most of life's opportunities. Parents have
an essential role to play in supporting and encouraging reading
- and I think new fathers like myself need to be a part of
this too. Research shows that parental involvement can have
a big impact on their children's achievement. I'm delighted
to welcome the Family Reading Campaign, which is doing important
work to help ensure that every child has the chance to fulfil
their potential."
Julia Strong, Director of the National Reading Campaign,
coordinates the Family Reading Campaign. She explains,
"Helping your child to love reading is one of the greatest
gifts parents can give to their children. Parental involvement
in reading has more of an influence on children's achievement
than any other factor - including how well educated or rich
their parents are. And parents are a child's first educator.
This campaign aims to encourage organisations to work together
more effectively to support reading in the home. Together
we can make every home a reading home and every child a reader."
www.familyreading.org.uk
ENDS
1. About the Family Reading Campaign
The Family Reading Campaign is launching on 15 January 2007.
It aims to ensure that:
- All families see reading as an important part of their
daily lives and part of the culture of their home.
- Parents and carers find time to read regularly with
their younger children.
- Reading for pleasure is recognised as an important
part of the process of learning to read.
- Young people feel comfortable about being seen to enjoy
reading.
- Reading in the home is encouraged and supported by
schools, the local community, the business community,
the media and wider society.
- The Family Reading Campaign is a partnership campaign
delivered by the National Literacy Trust's National Reading
Campaign on behalf of the Department for Education and
Skills. www.familyreading.org.uk
2. About the report Reading for pleasure: a research
overview
This paper explores reading for pleasure, its importance,
and its impact on literacy attainment and other outcomes.
It collects evidence that furthers our understanding of the
value of reading for pleasure and provides information that
will enable parents, teachers and policymakers to promote
reading motivation and wider reading.
Other findings:
- Almost half the children who took part in the National
Literacy Trust Reading Connects survey in 2005 reported
rarely discussing reading at home. When they do discuss
reading, the person children reported talking to most
frequently was their mother: 57.4% reported talking to
their mother about reading compared with 42.1% who said
they talk with their father.
- 84% of pupils indicated in the same survey that their
mother had taught them to read, while a quarter of pupils
from the same survey said that they never see their father
reading.
- 82% of adults surveyed by the BBC in 2006 reported
that they enjoyed reading.
The report can be downloaded from www.literacytrust.org.uk\research\readpleasure.html
3. About the National Reading Campaign
The National Reading Campaign aims to ensure that as many
people as possible enjoy the pleasures and benefits that reading
can bring. The Campaign is delivered by the National Literacy
Trust on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.
www.readon.org.uk
4. About the National Literacy Trust
The National Literacy Trust is an independent charity dedicated
to building a nation in which everyone enjoys the skills,
self-esteem and pleasures that literacy can bring. It is the
only organisation concerned with raising literacy standards
for all age groups throughout the UK. www.literacytrust.org.uk
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