As a children’s author for many years, I am deeply passionate about fostering a love for reading in children. Books allow us to dive into our imaginations, learn new facts and perspectives, and keep our minds active and engaged.
However, five years ago this month, we all felt the effects of COVID-19 as lockdowns began, schools closed, and children lost the structure and security that routine school life provides. The everyday opportunities for learning and interactions with friends and teachers vanished for many months.
While families and educators worked tirelessly to support children during this upheaval, catching up on lost schooling has proven immensely challenging, particularly for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Evidence shows that children facing economic hardship, difficult home situations, limited access to books or technology, and special educational needs have struggled significantly.
The attainment gap is currently the widest it has been in a decade. Research indicates that 57 percent of students from disadvantaged backgrounds are now leaving primary school without meeting age-related expectations in reading. Recent data from the Department for Education reveals that missing just ten days of Year 6 schooling decreases a pupil’s chances of reaching expected standards by about 25 percent.
It’s clear we have much work ahead to ensure that children are in the best position to catch up, make progress, and engage with their learning. Poor literacy skills can hinder their progress and profoundly affect their confidence, resilience, and self-esteem. When children disengage from learning, they are more likely to skip school, have difficulty finding employment, and, ultimately, may turn to crime. Efforts to enhance literacy and keep young people engaged in education are vital for reducing truancy and preventing crime.
That’s why the work of the Children’s Literacy Charity is crucial right now. As Patron of this small, specialized charity for several years, I’m proud that my own charity, Sarah’s Trust, has supported its initiatives. I have watched in admiration as their dedicated, trained tutors assist children who may be up to two years behind in their literacy skills.
These skilled tutors, adept at reaching hard-to-reach children, run specialized programs—either one-on-one or in small groups—focused on enhancing vital literacy skills, including reading, comprehension, listening, speaking, and writing. Remarkably, after just one month of twice-weekly “Literacy Lab” sessions, children can make up to four and a half months of progress, and over 75 percent of those who complete the program close their literacy gap entirely.
The charity also conducts a ten-week “Reading Lab” intervention for older primary school children to prepare them for the challenging transition to secondary school, during which pupils can achieve up to seven months of progress. Increasingly, even secondary schools are requesting support due to students arriving with poor literacy skills that hinder their engagement with the curriculum.
Reflecting concerning feedback from early years professionals, who report that many children born during COVID struggle to focus or communicate clearly, the charity is trialing a “Story Lab” program for nursery and reception-aged children. This initiative aims to improve language and communication skills through storytelling—something that is particularly close to my heart.
This year, the Children’s Literacy Charity will work in over 40 partner schools, delivering expert programs to more than 1,000 children. The charity’s mission is to assist as many children as possible who require specialized support, enabling those furthest behind to engage with learning and realize their full potential.
However, without any government funding, the charity works diligently to secure financial support to keep costs affordable for schools. Given the immense pressure on school budgets, this is more important than ever. That’s why this month, the charity is running a remarkable match-funding campaign with Big Give: until April 5, every pound donated through the Big Give platform will be doubled. If the target of £50,000 is met, 50 more children will have the opportunity to close their literacy gap permanently.
Your donation could help a child not only catch up but also gain the confidence and skills that will benefit them for a lifetime. Please consider supporting this wonderful charity.
