Reading Framework series: Literacy for life

Boosting children's life chances

'Whatever pupils' socio-economic background, making sure that they become engaged with reading from the beginning is one of the most important ways to make a difference to their life chances.'

DfE Reading Framework 2023, page 15

Giving your pupils autonomy over their reading choices is the only way to engage them and sustain an interest in a skill that will be used in almost every aspect of their future lives. Providing them with books for topics they are interested in helps invest them in The Reading Framework.

If you're dedicated to developing lifelong readers, have a look at our reading for pleasure page for inspiration and recommendations. We have a wide selection of educational, entertaining, and PSHE books for primary schools. If you have hard-to-reach pupils, let us know what interests them and we will work hard to find bespoke recommendations.

The joy of reading for pleasure

'Through the books and poems they encounter, through the characters and situations that they meet and the discussion that surrounds the text, pupils have a chance to experience the excitement, wonder and fascination that can come from reading.'

DfE Reading Framework 2023, page 80

Reading lessons can help pupils to become better readers, but also to view themselves as readers. Choosing the right books to engage your pupils gives them the chance to experience the excitement of reading. Provide a regular injection of new and exciting reads with our reading for pleasure subscription service for primary and secondary schools.

Read for empathy with PSHE books

We support the exciting work of EmpathyLab in schools, and their book collections offer a great way for schools to sensitively address some of the issues that pupils may be facing at home, while also supporting the development of a values-based code for life. 

On our PSHE and wellbeing pages, we have lists of books to support the UK PSHE curriculum in primary schools. These books can also support pupil wellbeing and positive mental health.

Books can offer much-needed support for children who are impacted by changes in family circumstances, who may be on the waiting list for professional support or struggling with school life post-pandemic.

The Reading Framework creates foundations for the future

'The OECD emphasised: ‘Reading practices can play an important role in reducing the gap between the reading proficiency scores of students from different socio-economic backgrounds.' But pupils cannot be ‘highly engaged’ if reading words is a struggle. It is vital, therefore, that phonics is a priority in teaching reading.'

DfE Reading Framework 2023, page 12

The framework recognises, as do we at Peters, the importance of securing the early reading skills as the foundations for whichever route into reading for pleasure a pupil may choose for themselves. We can support you with all your phonics needs, for all abilities, and with beginner and short chapter reads as pupils develop.