Webinar: Starting school - a critical moment to support reading enjoyment

Matthew Courtney is the Strategic Lead of Wandle English Hub and Director of Wandle Learning Partnership. He is passionate about Reading for Pleasure, children’s poetry and supporting underserved communities.

Matthew co-authored the Lit in Colour report published by Penguin Books and the Runnymede Trust, is a member of the PIRLS26 Research Advisory Group, and serves on the editorial board ofThe Curriculum Journal from the British Educational Research Association. He was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to explore how AI and digital tools can support children’s Reading for Pleasure in Denmark. 

Tom Percival is well known for his Big Bright Feelings series of picture books, such as Ruby’s Worry and Ravi’s Roar. He’s written over 35 books, ranging from picture books to middle-grade novels, and illustrated more than he can remember. Tom is known for his uplifting stories and emotionally expressive illustrations.

Rachel Boden was a children’s books editor for 23 years before becoming BookTrust’s Lead Children’s Books Promotion and Content Editor. She has worked with many authors and illustrators across many formats and genres, and loves recommending books that will get children reading.

Amy leads on BookTrust’s schools’ research, insight and evaluation work, bringing 14 years’ experience in social research and a passion for evidence-informed practice. Recent examples of her research work in primary schools includes a research briefing on the wellbeing benefits of reading and a partnership with the Open University on the evidence behind why book choice matters. She also worked with teachers to support the development of Bookbuzz Primary, BookTrust’s new programme for primary schools. Amy also manages BookTrust’s Learning Oversight Group, working with academics and other experts to inform BookTrust’s schools-based and wider early years research, learning and evaluation activities.