Publish date: 21 May 2025
BookTrust and the Waterstones Children’s Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce have launched the Reading Rights report, which aims to make early shared reading a universal experience and a regular part of life for every child.
Reading supports cognitive development, bonding and attachment, emotional wellbeing, school readiness and community connection.
The report sets out a vision to create a comprehensive strategy for early childhood reading. Through the summit and his national learning tour, Frank has identified five key areas to make tangible change to children’s reading.
These will be the focus of The BookTrust's work with Frank over the next twelve months of the Reading Rights campaign:
- Embed the benefits of reading in training for professionals across early years, health, education and social care
- Make sure shared reading is included in policy, guidance and frameworks
- Ensure access to high quality, representative books and resources for families and practitioners
- Share high quality research and evidence
- Establish multi agency leadership models to be replicated across communities.
The expertise and influence of those that work in children's services will be critical to ensure that every child can grow up with all of the profound benefits that reading brings.
You can find out more, read the report and lend your support at https://www.booktrust.org.uk/readingrights
Find out what happened when Waterstones Children's Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce visited a family hub in Southport to understand how books and stories are a vital part of Early Years speech and language support.
