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Family reading to receive a boost
12 Nov 2008
A pioneering approach to encourage reading in families receives a substantial boost from HarperCollins Publishers today. The National Literacy Trust is delighted to announce that the publisher is sponsoring an innovative new pilot scheme.
The new Family Reading Is Fundamental, UK (RIF) pilot is based on the substantial evidence base that shows parental involvement in reading is a stronger influence on children's achievement than factors such as family income, class and even parents' education. The new scheme builds on RIF's traditional model, which works primarily with children, to involve parents in inspiring a love of reading and boosting their children's life chances.
National Literacy Trust research shows that:
- during the first four years of a child's life, 53% of parents read to their children at least once a day.
- This drops to 37% for children aged five to eight years old.
- It tails off even further to 21% among nine to 12-year-olds.
Family RIF aims to harness the powerful influence parents can have by supporting learning in the home, rather than relying on school-based activities. Children aged five to 16 spend 85% of their time with their families (as compared with 15% of their time in school).
The Family RIF pilot focuses on the particular importance of support at the age of seven and eight years, as this is commonly accepted as the age when children stop learning to read and start 'reading to learn'. This can mean parents don't realise they need to stay involved with children's reading. At this stag,e many children read more independently and may no longer be asking for bedtime stories.
The pilot will take place in Edinburgh from January 2009, with plans to extend to further locations in the UK. Inspirational events and workshops held over a five-week period will provide effective strategies for parents to boost their children's desire to read for pleasure.
Ashley Lodge, Corporate Responsibility Manager for HarperCollins, says: "The scheme is innovative and well researched and everyone is excited by what it could achieve. As publishers, we are passionate about reading and want to help children and families share that love of books. We're delighted to be working with the National Literacy Trust on this pilot, which we hope will deliver really practical and positive results."
Jonathan Douglas, Director of the National Literacy Trust, says: "Parental involvement in reading has a stronger influence on children's achievement than many other factors – including how wealthy or well-educated their parents are. By encouraging children and families to read for pleasure, HarperCollins and the National Literacy Trust will help more people gain the skills they need to fulfil their potential."
To mark the partnership between HarperCollins and the National Literacy Trust, and to help celebrate the charity’s 15th anniversary, the publishers also made a donation of 7,500 books. These were distributed by The Returns Company and given away to local families in Rochdale, Staffordshire and Lambeth.
For more information on HarperCollins contact Susanna Frayn, Corporate Communications, on 020 8307 4133 or email susanna.frayn@harpercollins.co.uk.
For more information on the National Literacy Trust contact Fiona Lewis on 020 7820 6253 or email fiona.lewis@literacytrust.org.uk.
Note to Editors:
Reading Is Fundamental, UK
Reading Is Fundamental, UK (RIF) is an initiative of the National Literacy Trust. RIF helps children and young people realise their potential by motivating them to read. Working with trained volunteer coordinators, RIF helps to introduce children to the fun and excitement of reading by allowing them to choose and keep up to three free books a year. www.rif.org.uk
There are over 300 RIF projects in schools, libraries, early years centres, community groups, women's refuges and prisons. In 2005/06, RIF gave 72,000 books to 24,000 children. To date, RIF has given more than 770,000 books to over 258,000 children.
National Literacy Trust
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
The National Literacy Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, no. 1116260, and a company limited by guarantee, no. 5836486. Registered office: 68 South Lambeth Road, London SW8 1RL.
HarperCollins Publishers
HarperCollins UK has notched up nearly 200 years of history and publishes a wider range of books than any other publisher in the UK, from cutting-edge contemporary fiction, to block-busting thrillers, from fantasy literature and children's stories to enduring classics. It also publishes a great selection of non-fiction titles, including history, celebrity memoirs, biographies, popular science, dictionaries, maps, reference titles and education books with a thriving digital business especially in reference and education.
The Returns Company
The Returns Company's market leading technology and processes deliver high-quality returns services creating real value for clients such as HarperCollins. As a result the company responsible for processing and transporting large volumes of returned stock, improves cashflow, reduces costs and shrinkage while reducing the environmental impact of clients' returns supply chains.
Parental involvement research
Parental involvement in reading is a stronger influence on children's achievement than factors such as family income, class and even parents' education. (Early father's and mother's involvement and child's later educational outcomes, Flouri, E. and Buchanan, A, 2004).
National Literacy Trust research
- Children spend 15% of their lives from age five to 16 in school and 85% with their families, parents and communities (Literacy changes lives, Clark and Dugdale, 2006).
- During the first four years of a child's life, 53% of parents read to their offspring at least once a day. This drops to 37% for children aged five to eight and tails off again to 21% among nine to 12-year-olds. (Reading for Pleasure, Clark and Rumbold, 2006).
2008 National Year of Reading
The 2008 National Year of Reading is a year-long celebration of reading, in all its forms. It will help to build a greater national passion for reading – for children, families and adult learners alike. The Year will encourage people to read in businesses, homes, and communities around the country, providing new opportunities to read and helping people to access help and support through schools and libraries. The 2008 National Year of Reading is being managed by the National Literacy Trust and lead partner The Reading Agency. www.yearofreading.org.uk
