The government’s pledge to provide a library for every primary school includes converting cloakrooms and corridors, Tes can reveal.

Last September chancellor Rachel Reeves committed to a library in every primary by 2029.

Tes asked the National Literacy Trust (NLT) if it could outline what is being defined as a library, after a freedom of information request revealed that the government’s plan is based on NLT funding estimates and that £12.5 million is required to meet the chancellor’s target.

It is estimated that 14 per cent of primaries do not have a library. The 2029 target requires new libraries for 1,677 schools.

School libraries in former storage areas

In January, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) told Tes that “it is for the NLT to design the programme in partnership with government”.

An NLT spokesperson advised that its Libraries for Primaries campaign uses the definition of “an area separate to a classroom that provides access to a curated collection of resources to benefit pupils’ learning and development”.

The spokesperson said that “we recognise that schools need to work with the spaces that they have to provide something that works for their school community, and that each school has the right to select the most suitable space based on their needs”.

They added: “Throughout the duration of the programme, many schools have chosen to create successful library spaces in spare classrooms, areas previously used as storage or as cloakrooms, corridors, reception areas, hallways and parts of the school hall.”

While cloakrooms and hallways could meet the definition of a library under the plans, reading corners in primary classrooms would not because they are not deemed a separate space.

James Bowen, assistant general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union, welcomed the aim of a library in every primary by the end of the current Parliament, but said that investment should “support schools to create comfortable, accessible environments - inviting spaces with easy-to-reach books for all”.

He added: “These spaces do not need to be organised, or labelled, as a traditional library. Libraries can be vibrant spaces within schools, where children go not just to access books but to fall in love with reading and the world of literature.

“That being said, the spaces must be suitable. Whilst some schools may have existing spaces that can be used, some will require more substantial building works to add or convert spaces.”

Mr Bowen also said that new libraries must come with “investment in staff” and that any funding for libraries “must extend to all settings, including specialist and alternative provision”.

Danger of ‘missed opportunity’

Caroline Roche, chair of the school libraries group at the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, usually known as CILIP, said there was a danger of a “missed opportunity” if the focus was too heavily on physical spaces rather than staffing.

She fears that the plan overlooks the importance of librarians: “In primaries, you really need somebody to curate the collection; you need librarians, you need somebody to choose the right books for the school demographic.”

Ms Roche said: “Just dumping books in the classroom and saying, ‘Yes, you can choose whatever books, and perhaps we’ll buy you a shelf or two with the money’ - it’s not the same.”

She added that if the policy allowed libraries to be put “anywhere”, these spaces “could end up just being a dusty room, books could end up being dissipated, and in couple of years’ time, what was the point of that money?”.

Under freedom of information, Tes requested any Treasury financial modelling behind the plan to justify an initial figure of £10 million as being sufficient to fund libraries in every primary school. The Treasury said that the costs were based on the NLT’s previous creation of over 1,500 “libraries or designated library spaces”.

But the NLT had now finalised costings so that £12.5 million will be allocated for 1,677 more libraries. The funding also aims to provide schools with “furniture, books in a variety of formats and staff training to ensure schools are well equipped to make the most of their new libraries and reading spaces”.

The DCMS told Tes that funding for the primary libraries programme will come from £132.5 million allocated to increase disadvantaged young people’s access to “enrichment opportunities”, as part of the Dormant Assets Scheme Strategy.

A DCMS spokesperson said: “This government has committed to providing a library in every primary school in England by the end of this Parliament.

“The National Literacy Trust will work with us and the National Lottery Community Fund to design the programme, taking the necessary time to plan the rollout, drawing on insight and lessons from previous successful library launches. Further details will be provided in due course.”

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