ASCL comment on National Year of Reading

13/01/2026
Pepe Di’Iasio, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to the launch of a campaign from the government and National Literacy Trust to tackle the decline in reading for pleasure among young people.
 
 
“Reading for pleasure is a powerful and joyful gateway to a world of knowledge, and the Go All In campaign is an excellent initiative. It is of vital importance that reading is something that children and young people do as part of their normal lives, as this is key to complementing and supporting the brilliant work of schools in teaching excellent literacy skills.
 
“Reading opens up all other subjects, firing the imagination, and inspiring creativity. We would particularly encourage parents of young children to read with them as often as possible because this plays such a crucial role in their development.”