Schools & teaching

Raising standards in UK schools means improving lives for children and young people in this country. The level of excellence schools aspire to achieve can only be reached if pupils have the reading, writing, speaking and listening skills that they need to access the curriculum. The National Literacy Trust believes that by supporting schools and professionals, particularly where the need is greatest, to motivate their pupils to develop a passion for reading and writing and by providing opportunities to become confident speakers and adept listeners, we can help children and young people to fulfil their potential.

We achieve this by working to support schools and teachers in developing an enriched literacy culture within their establishment – an environment where best literacy practice is embedded throughout the whole-school community and where pupils’ families and community organisations are involved in the process.

Through our projects delivered in partnership with schools, we implement innovative models: developing peer reading models through Reading Champions; using the motivational power of sport through Reading The Game; empowering children to choose their own books through the National Young Readers’ Programme and giving students the opportunity to explore their speaking and listening skills in the workplace through Words for Work.

Furthermore, we support schools by sharing our knowledge and the knowledge of practitioners. The Reading Connects network supports thousands of schools in developing a whole-school reading culture. As an organisation, we also advocate innovative practice in schools in response to our research findings and we share news and policy analysis on a regular basis to keep schools informed.

We hope that you find this information useful. For any enquiries please email sarah.dezoysa@literacytrust.org.uk.