Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how her Department plans to promote the National Year of Reading within early years policy and strategy.

The National Year of Reading is a UK-wide campaign aiming to tackle long-term declines in reading enjoyment.

Reading together is one of the most powerful ways to build a child’s language and communication skills, strengthen early bonds, and spark a lifelong love of reading. This is why early years is one of the priority groups for the National Year of Reading.

The ‘Go All In’ campaign positions reading as a powerful way for parents and families to increase quality time with their children and explore shared interests further, rather than reading being seen as a parental obligation.

​The National Year of Reading includes a major physical and online marketing campaign, as well as exciting events, webinars, resources, and activities in communities, libraries, schools and early years settings throughout the year.

The government is also investing around £500 million in the national rollout of the Best Start Family Hubs, which includes simple, practical tips to help parents feel confident in sharing stories, songs and books.

Early years settings and all interested parties are encouraged to sign up to www.goallin.org.uk for more information and to receive regular updates.