School Zone
The Summer Reading Challenge helps to prevent the summer reading ‘dip’, encouraging children aged 4 to 11 to set themselves a reading goal over the holidays.
Each year, the Challenge motivates over 700,000 children to keep reading to build their skills and confidence. The Challenge is presented by The Reading Agency, funded by Arts Council England, and delivered with the support of public libraries.
Scroll down for free resources and activities to help get your pupils involved!
Your pupils and the Summer Reading Challenge 2023
You can make a huge difference by encouraging your pupils to take part.
The Summer Reading Challenge:
- Significantly improves reading confidence and independence
- Ensures pupils are ready for their return to school
- Aids the successful transition between year groups and key stages
- Contributes to all pupils’ achievement regardless of reading level
- Encourages extra-curricular activity and family engagement with reading
- Develops links between your school, the library and the wider community
Each year the Summer Reading Challenge has a new theme. For 2023, The Reading Agency is teaming up with Youth Sport Trust for ‘Ready, Set, Read!’ a sports and games themed Challenge that will encourage play and participation – however that best suits children taking part.
Find out more about ‘Ready Set, Read!’ here.
How to take part
For more information about how the Summer Reading Challenge works, please visit FAQ. The Challenge will launch in libraries in Scotland on Saturday 24 June 2023, and in England and Wales on Saturday 8 July 2023.
Children can also join in the fun online, here on the official Challenge website.
Finish dates and reward items vary by location, so we recommend getting in touch with your local library service to find out more about the Challenge in your area.
Stay up to date with news about the Challenge and other exciting offers on our Facebook page.
Resources
We have a range of schools’ resources to support with promoting the Challenge and encouraging your pupils to love reading!
- Download our 2023 Schools Pack to find out more about this year’s Challenge, the benefits to your pupils and how to take part.
- Our Assembly Presentations are a great way to introduce the Summer Reading Challenge and this year’s theme to your pupils. These presentations can be shared in class or on remote learning platforms.
- Encourage children to head to the library with our Drawing Activity Invite.
- You can also use our helpful Newsletter Template to promote the Challenge on your school’s website or in newsletters sent home to families.
- To help get your students excited about the Challenge you’ll be able to use our downloadable posters (coming soon!).
Free resources to share with your class
Visit our Resources Bank to download free materials including book lists, teaching resources, activity sheets and videos. The Resources Bank is updated with new items every week, so check back regularly!
You can also find lots of fun activities and author content here.
Sign up to our Teachers’ Mailing List! You’ll receive a monthly Teachers’ Newsletter, full of interesting news, information about the Teachers’ Reading Challenge and useful tools and tips.
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Chatterbooks
The Reading Agency also co-ordinates a national network of reading groups for children called Chatterbooks. Find out more about the resources available for you to set up your own children’s reading group here. Visit our Shop to order a Chatterbooks group leader toolkit and to see our latest reading group offers. You can also find hundreds of free resources including reading group guides and activity packs on our resources page. If you would like more information about Chatterbooks please get in touch.
Reading Well for children
Reading Well for children provides quality-assured information, stories and advice to support children’s mental health and wellbeing. Books have been chosen and recommended by leading health professionals and co-produced with children and families. The booklist is targeted at children in Key Stage 2 (aged 7-11), but includes titles aimed at a wide range of reading levels to support less confident readers, and to encourage children to read together with their siblings and carers. Find out more about the scheme and access supporting resources here.
Engaging readers and inspiring writers
At Pearson, we recognise the importance of inspiring a love of reading and writing for pleasure. Our innovative and engaging approaches are equipping learners with the language, reading and writing skills they need to do so.