Why reading matters by Mrs Byrne, Head of English

As Head of English here at Perrott Hill I am incredibly protective of ‘reading rest’ – our pupils’ daily allocated reading time – and here’s why.

It doesn’t just affect English results. It has a huge impact on children’s ability to progress and access the curriculum in every subject, even subjects which don’t appear to involve literacy.

Renaissance Learning, the company behind the hugely popular Accelerated Reader programme that we use here at Perrott Hill, have assessed the impact of daily reading.

Their analysis of more than 2.2 million students found a clear dividing line: Children reading fewer than 15 minutes a day made progress below the national average. At 15 minutes and above, gains rose sharply and kept rising.

The cumulative impact is staggering:

· A child who averages 30 minutes or more of daily reading over their school career will encounter around 13.7 million words

· A child reading fewer than 15 minutes will meet just 1.5 million.

That 12-million-word gap shapes vocabulary, comprehension, oracy and confidence, not just reading levels.

Aside from the sheer enjoyment, and the way in which books can transport us into new and wonderful worlds, this is why we value and prioritise quiet reading time. Fortunately, we know it is something our parents do too and by re-enforcing this at home, we are creating a shared ethos, and building a strong foundation for our children’s future.