Full Breakdown
Reading Enjoyment Rises in UK Children
6/11/2026, 8:56:33 AM
Survey Rise
The National Literacy Trust surveyed 125,375 children aged 5-18 from 479 schools Jan-Mar 2026. 36.1% of 8-18-year-olds enjoy reading, up from 32.7% in 2025. 20.3% read daily, up from 18.7%.
Background: Decline & Year of Reading
Reading enjoyment fell from 51.5% in 2021 to a 20-year low of 32.7% in 2025. Government responded with the National Year of Reading 2026, a campaign of 800 partners and 3,000 libraries urging families to read together daily.
Key Numbers: Enjoyment, Gaps
Rise is greatest among 14-16-year-olds (35% enjoy reading, up from 28.6%) and 16-18-year-olds (49.4%, up from 41.4%). Among 5-8-year-olds, enjoyment fell to 61.6% from 62.6%, after a drop in boys’ enjoyment. FSM recipients 32.1% in 2026, up from 31% in 2025; non-FSM peers rose from 33% to 37.3%, widening socio-economic gap.
Implications: Benefits, Inequalities
The NLT notes enjoyment correlates with frequent reading, supporting learning, wellbeing and empathy. Yet widening FSM gap and gender disparity among younger children show progress remains uneven, lagging a decade behind.
Official
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the increase “fills me with hope” and stressed reading relevant and accessible to poorer children. National Literacy Trust chief Jonathan Douglas warned gains must not be taken for granted and called for investment in schools, libraries and programmes.
Criticism
Analysts highlighted modest rise leaves engagement low, with FSM gap expanding and gender gap persisting among 5-8-year-olds. NLT cautioned without sustained effort, recovery could stall.
On-the-Ground
Author Dapo Adeola described books as “gateways” to imagination. Rachel Bright observed that “sustainable incremental gain” is more durable than a “big pendulum swing,” with reactions at festivals and libraries.
Conflicts
Survey gives enjoyment figures for free-school-meal status but does not break down daily-reading rates by socio-economic group, leaving a gap in the scope of inequality.
Quotes
- "For the first time in five years, more children are saying they're enjoying reading, and that genuinely fills me with hope." — Bridget Phillipson, Education Secretary
- "Stories are gateways that allow your imagination to take flight through time and space." — Dapo Adeola, Children’s Author and Illustrator
- "After years of decline in children and young people’s relationship with reading, we’re starting to see some green shoots of recovery." — Jonathan Douglas, Chief, National Literacy Trust
- "I think a sustainable incremental gain is probably stickier than a big pendulum swing because there’s a big campaign and lots of noise about it and then it might sort of go away, whereas the imagination gym is built one flex at a time." — Rachel Bright, Children’s Author
Next
Year of Reading runs through 2026, urging partners to continue initiatives and track progress.
