Children and young people’s reading for enjoyment is at an all-time low.
The National Literacy Trust’s latest research, which explored children and young people’s reading for pleasure and daily reading habits in 2025, supported by Twinkl, reveals that the picture remains just as concerning a year on.
The report, taken from the results of 114,970 children and young people in the UK aged 5 to 18 who completed their annual literacy survey, shows a continued decline in children and young people’s reading enjoyment, albeit at a slightly slower pace than reported in their 2024 research.
- Only 1 in 3 (32.7%) children and young people aged 8 to 18 say they enjoy reading in their free time
- Only 1 in 5 (18.7%) say they read something daily in their free time
Both these statistics are their lowest levels in twenty years since we began tracking reading enjoyment and daily reading habits. We can change this!
Please make sure that your child uses their free World Book Day voucher that has gone home this week. The digital token can be found here.
Some recommended reading lists can be found below.
Best Books for Year 7: Recommended Reading Booklist
Best Books for Year 8: Recommended Reading Booklist
Best Books for Year 9: Recommended Reading Booklist
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