3 March 2008

World Book Day 2008 and the National Literacy Trust

World Book Day takes place on Thursday 6 March and is "the biggest annual event promoting the enjoyment of books and reading." (www.worldbookday.com). According to a new survey by the National Literacy Trust, reading for pleasure should come top of the literacy agenda in 2008.

The National Literacy Trust surveyed experts from research, policy, practice and the media about a range of literacy issues ranging from phonics to family reading. The first report of its kind to take place in the UK, 'What's hot, what's not 2008' demonstrated that reading for pleasure should be one of the most important topics in 2008.

Other topics that the respondents believe should be the 'hot' topics this year were comprehension, assessment and initial teacher training while policy and political influences are seen as the least important issues in 2008. Phonics is also currently rated as one of the hottest issues by far. However, one in three respondents believed that it should not continue to be a focus of attention in 2008.

Key statistics include:

• Although 97% of respondents thought reading for pleasure should be a high profile issue, over half (54%) felt that currently, it was not (although 65% felt that the National Year of Reading would be a hot topic)
• 89% felt that initial teacher training was not hot, but 80% of respondents felt that it should be
• 77% of respondents felt that political influences and policy were hot but almost 65% felt that they should be less important in 2008

Jonathan Douglas, director of the National Literacy Trust, comments:

"With World Book Day 2008 fast approaching, it is encouraging to see that reading for pleasure has been highlighted as one of the key literacy issues for the year ahead. Promoting enjoyment of reading is an important part of literacy strategy, alongside assessment and teacher training. A national debate about these issues should not only change how we think about literacy but also shift practice and policy, which will raise literacy standards."  

www.literacytrust.org.uk

ENDS

Notes to editors

The National Literacy Trust is an independent charity that changes lives through literacy. It links home, school and the wider community to inspire learners and create opportunities for everyone. www.literacytrust.org.uk

What's hot, what's not survey 2007/8
During December 2007, 35 national leaders in the areas of research, policy, practice and the media were interviewed about a range of literacy issues. Interviewees were asked to indicate whether a certain topic was "hot" (i.e. currently a topic of debate and research) or "not hot" (i.e. not currently receiving a lot of attention). In addition, interviewees were asked whether these topics should or should not be a focus of research and debate in 2008. A similar survey has been conducted in the U.S. since 1967. The most recent U.S. findings will be reported by Jack Cassidy in the February/March 2008 issue of Reading Today, but this is the first time that the study has been carried out in the UK.

What's hot, what's not 2008 report

The findings of the US survey can be found at: www.reading.org/publications/reading_today/samples/RTY-0802-hotlist.html