Literacy

The latest news, analysis and best practice advice when it comes to literacy, from recent research and how to implement it to new guidance and what it means

Thursday

24th Sep 2026

Cambridge makes major English literature changes in syllabus refresh
Qualifications body also announces a new option for its International Project Qualification that it hopes will attract a ‘wider range of candidates’
Scene from as you like it

Thursday

17th Sep 2026

How to avoid buying literacy products that don’t deliver
Tight budgets often end up being spent on literacy programmes that aren’t effective, write Laura Spargo and Sarah Bagshaw-McCormick, as they set out what to ask yourself before you buy
Book with blank pages

Tuesday

8th Sep 2026

Reading from birth: how to build early literacy skills
For very young children, reading does not need to focus on the printed word, says Dr Karen Boardman, but should include playful experiences that support the development of crucial literacy skills
Young children playing drums

Wednesday

26th Aug 2026

‘Thank you Dolly Parton, you gave millions the chance of the right start in reading’
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library revealed an understanding of the importance of early reading and offered help to those who could not provide the environment themselves, writes Professor Jessie Ricketts
Dolly Parton Imagination Library - impact on children's reading

Monday

3rd Aug 2026

Why schools must consider the ‘ecology’ of reading
Our understanding of how young people learn to read has never been better, so why are so many pupils still not choosing to be readers? Adam Lancaster suggests that ecological factors could be at play
Pop art illustration of a girl reading a book

Wednesday

29th Jul 2026

What the bestselling books for teens tell secondary teachers
Secondary schools are being pushed to boost reading, but what is the best way to do that? Rufus Thomas looks for clues in the Waterstones’ bestseller list about what teens actually want to read
Secondary books

Wednesday

22nd Jul 2026

What the bestselling books for children tell primary teachers
Research shows that pupils’ enjoyment of reading declines as they move through primary school. Do the bestselling books for this age group hold any clues about how schools can help reverse the trend?
Bunny v Monkey book

Friday

17th Jul 2026

Make school libraries a legal requirement, MPs say
The government’s current focus is on ‘reading proficiency over pleasure’, a report by the Commons Education Select Committee warns
A male student peering over a stack of books in a library

Monday

6th Jul 2026

How our primary school got children to fall in love with poetry
This school has created such a buzz about poetry that younger pupils are excitedly talking about joining Poetry Club when they’re old enough. Teachers Sarah Horspole and Madeline Coe explain how they did it
Girl reading poetry

Wednesday

10th Jun 2026

How to create a better reader (hint: hard texts matter)
The curriculum review has sparked debate about which texts we should make space for in our classrooms, but how far does text choice really matter for improving reading? Tes speaks to US literacy researcher Timothy Shanahan to find out
Little girl opening giant book

Tuesday

2nd Jun 2026

The myth about Ofsted, the DfE and early writing
A myth has taken root in early years that children should avoid writing until they can form letters and spell correctly – but encouraging early writing and mark making can help with literacy, says Julian Grenier
Two small children writing

Thursday

28th May 2026

Why students’ writing often feels flat, and how to fix it
Pupils’ writing lacks personality when they are too focused on sentence structures and checklists, writes head of English Emma Snow. Here, she sets out how to address this problem
mountain of paper