CHILDREN READING FOR PLEASURE

Early day motion 2687, tabled 3 September 2019 by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Labour). Signed by 13 members.

That this House recognises the importance of reading for pleasure as the most powerful agent in improving a child’s educational attainment and life chances; notes that children who read for pleasure daily or nearly every day are a year ahead in reading performance versus those who never do; further notes that 10 to 16 year olds make four times as much progress in vocabulary, maths and spelling if they read for pleasure than if their parents have a degree; and calls on the Education Secretary to change the curriculum to uncouple reading for pleasure from lessons and to enable teachers to include non-tested story time as an intrinsic part of every school day.

Signatures by party: Labour 7, Labour/Co-operative 3, Conservative 1, DUP 1, Scottish National Party 1.