Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure children read outside of term time.

The National Curriculum for English taught in maintained schools requires that teachers encourage pupils to develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information. Evidence suggests that there is a positive relationship between reading frequency, reading enjoyment and attainment. We expect teachers to promote a love of reading and all pupils should be encouraged to choose and read books independently for challenge, interest and enjoyment.

There is a range of initiatives run by charitable organisations encouraging reading for pleasure including the Summer Reading Scheme run by the Reading Agency, which is designed for all reading abilities and encourages children aged 4 to 11 to read six books during the summer holiday.