New research carried out by Opinion Research, January 2020, has shown that more than a quarter of a million primary school children in Britain are experiencing literary poverty.  The UK's largest children's reading charity, BookTrust, defines this as a child who is read to or with for plesure, for less than 15 minutes a week outside of school.

14% of school children aged 7-9 are currently falling into this category with a further 17% on the cusp, being read to or with for less than half an hour a week.  6% of children aged 7-9 fall into the lower category of literary poverty, with their parents or guardians never reading to or with them at all.  50% of UK children aged 7-11 read for less than one hour a week.

In response to these findings, former Children's Laureate and twice CILIP Carnegie Medal Winner Anne Fine has launched BookTrust's annual Pyjamarama campaign to call on families to rediscover the joy of reading.

'Sharing a story with a small child is a sanity-saving, calming comfort. Reading to an older child becomes addictive. It’s a shame that so many of our children are missing out on such a simple and enriching pleasure. Books furnish minds and change lives – and always, always for the better.'

Pyjamarama invites Primary Schools and Nurseries to sign up allowing children to wear their pyjamas all day on Friday 5 June, celebrating the bedtime story in return for a £1 donation.  All funds raised will go towards helping BookTrust ensure that every child experiences the life changing benefits that accessing books and reading can bring.  Gemma Malley, Director of Communications and Development for BookTrust says:

'We know that reading for enjoyment is closely linked to academic development as well as building confidence and resilience and children who are read to are much more likely to read for enjoyment themselves. ' 

For more information visit the BookTrust website here