Our Support for Children from Vulnerable Family Backgrounds

We help children experience the lifelong benefits of reading. Our programmes and tools support children and families in foster care, adoption and kinship.

Dad and young child reading together

Shared reading supports attachment and can help children feel secure and loved. 

We know something profound happens in those magical moments when an adult and child share a story together: shared attention, emotional availability, reciprocity, mutual calm, enjoyment, and so much more. 

BookTrust partner with organisations and practitioners working daily with families. We ensure our programmes are part of the wider support to increase life-chances for children from vulnerable family backgrounds.

Frank Cottrell-Boyce standing in front of flowers and foliage

"Fundamentally reading in the early years makes an enormous difference, not just to educational attainment but to resilience and happiness."

"I want to reach people who we never really talk about in this context: ... kids in care, looked-after children. They’re the people that it’s really important to reach because they’ve got the lowest life chances, and we can make the biggest impact by bringing life chances to them.” 

Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Waterstones Children’s Laureate

 

Our programmes

Our new shared reading programme for 0-7 year olds, available for purchase by Local authorities, fostering and adoption agencies.

Find out more and register

Join hundreds of schools and local authorities using Letterbox Club to bring the magic of reading and numeracy to pupil premium and vulnerable learners age 3-13.  

Find out more and register

Find resources, videos and support for unlocking the magic of shared reading and more. Designed with and for kinship families and the professionals supporting them.  

Find out more

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Research and impact

Our research helps us understand what works to get families reading and why it’s so important.

Books to spark a love of reading in children in care

Author E. L. Norry recommends books that could help to spark a love of reading for children in care, drawing on her own care experience.

Our Newsletters

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