Waterstones Children's Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce and BookTrust host Reading Rights summit
Published on: 22 January 2025
Waterstones Children's Laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce and BookTrust are today hosting a Reading Rights summit, as part of Frank's campaign to address the 'invisible privilege and inequality' within children's books and reading.
Held in Liverpool's iconic St George's Hall today, the Reading Rights summit will bring together high-profile expert voices in the political, education, literacy, early years, arts and health sectors with a view to recommending an urgent course of action to policymakers that will help ensure that the life-changing benefits of children's reading are taken seriously.
The programme for the day is divided into three key areas for improvement, identified by Cottrell-Boyce and BookTrust following a learning tour to early learning centres, nurseries, schools and family hubs across the UK. They are:
- The best start in life: "We want to normalise sharing stories as part of the best start in life for every child, with midwives, health visitors and other early years professionals introducing reading to all families."
- Nurseries and schools: "We want nurseries and schools to be equipped and supported so that sharing books and stories is at the heart of early education for every child."
- Families and communities: "We want all families and communities, including those experiencing vulnerability, to be supported to make reading and storytelling part of daily life."
Among the high-profile speakers at the event are Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram, former Children's Laureates Cressida Cowell and Michael Rosen, and Children's Commissioner Rachel de Souza, who will deliver the closing keynote speech.
Meanwhile, former Children's Laureate Chris Riddell will commemorate the day with special 'behind the scenes' live illustrations.
And a report summarising key learnings and policy recommendations from the Reading Rights summit will be published by BookTrust in spring 2025.
Cottrell-Boyce said: "Working with BookTrust in these first six months of my Laureateship I've visited lots of early years settings and seen astonishingly brilliant practice. I understand now – more than ever – just how urgent it is that we re-reset the conversation about reading. To use a government phrase: 'de-silo reading'.
"Yes, it's important for educational attainment. Yes, DCMS, it's the most crucial – and most democratic – part of our cultural heritage. Shared reading is an effective, economic health intervention, so yes, it's essential, Wes Streeting, to mental health, to bonding, to attachment, to creating a situation where parents and carers can give the best, the most joyous start in life to our children.
"New research from BookTrust demonstrates this urgent need for support: 6 in 10 parents and carers of 0-7 year-olds wish they had known earlier just how important it is to read and share stories regularly with their children, and wish they had started doing so sooner. Our children are near the top of the global leagues when it comes to the mechanical skill of reading but near the bottom when it comes to 'reading for pleasure'. We've taught them all the steps and the names of all the tunes. But they're not dancing.
"That our children seem to be experiencing some kind of happiness recession at the moment is not surprising, and I believe that the decline in reading too has played its part in this.
"That's why, as Children's Laureate, I've worked with BookTrust to create this summit – together, we are going to discuss, share, challenge and develop our expertise and experiences. Together, we will develop a report that will help ensure the transformative gift of reading is shared with every single child.
"Because this is so, so doable but the longer we wait to address invisible privilege and inequality, the worse this becomes – more and more children fall further behind."
Meanwhile, BookTrust CEO Diana Gerald said: "Sadly, too many children from low-income families don't get the start in life they deserve. However, we know that early years experiences that include shared reading can change this and are critical to giving children the best start in life.
"Reading regularly with a child from the earliest moments in childhood has a measurable impact on their development and wellbeing and helps children overcome disadvantages caused by inequalities. That's why BookTrust partnered with over 4,700 early years settings last year to provide high-quality shared reading support for families.
"But there is much more to be done. There must now be urgent investment in quality provision that places child development at the heart of the early years system so that the benefits of early reading and the magic of sharing stories can be experienced by every family, in every community.
"There has never been a more urgent time for us to inspire a new generation of children on their reading journeys."
Topics: Children's Laureate, News, Frank Cottrell-Boyce
Waterstones Children's Laureate: Frank Cottrell-Boyce
Frank Cottrell-Boyce is the Waterstones Children's Laureate for 2024-26.
The role of Children's Laureate is awarded once every two years to an eminent writer or illustrator of children's books to celebrate outstanding achievement in their field. Find out what Frank's been up to.