Words for Life Jonathan Douglas Director The National Literacy Trust

Where are we now…? The new National Curriculum has re- emphasised the importance of attitudes and behaviours around reading and literacy The Curriculum has embedded a rich model of reading and writing requiring at KS2 a deep understanding of authorial intention, inferential reading and the creation and reception of meaning SPAG is not going away, neither is phonics screening

But… What on earth will the Level Descriptors for English look like? What is the relationship between Teacher Assessment and testing? What will the new commission on life after levels say? How will the new “middle tier” – academy sponsors, regional school commissioners and Ofsted Regional Directors - impact on literacy practice? What does the EEF think actually works? Will the General Election make any difference?

Literacy a ladder out of poverty Reduction in reliance on state benefits –An increase in literacy cuts the likelihood of reliance on benefits from 19% to 6% Less likely to own your own home –A modest rise in literacy level sees the likelihood of a man owning their own house rise from 40% to 78%.

But poor literacy means you are More likely to live in a non-working household –22% of men and 30% of women with literacy below entry level 2 live in nonworking households. Less likely to have children –Individuals with low levels of literacy are more likely to lead solitary lives without any children. More likely to live in overcrowded housing –Individuals with low literacy levels are more likely to live in overcrowded housing with reduced access to technology. More likely to experience divorce –A literate family is less likely to experience divorce, as divorce rates amongst those with high literacy are low, and significantly lower than those with poor literacy skills.

Attitudes and behaviours matter as well as skills “Enjoyment of reading has a greater impact on a child’s educational achievement than their parents’ socio-economic status.” OECD Reading for change 2002, 2009 “Overall, young people who enjoy reading very much are nearly five times as likely to read at the expected level for their age compared with young people who do not enjoy reading at all.” Children’s and Young People’s Reading Today, 2012

Reading – KS2 at level Boys75%82% Girls82%87%

Enjoying Reading at Year Boys70%55% Girls85%75% Source: Sainsbury & Schagen 2004

Literacy behaviours in the home are vital Impact size of home learning environment about 3 times that of high quality early education Critical time for language development, 0-2yrs Poor home learning environment and/or poor group care in first two years creates learning lag that makes catch up difficult (but not impossible) Early language efficacy strongly co-related with literacy skills throughout education 11

Research in the States has demonstrated that early language and communication patterns are the foundation of the early literacy/poverty gap By the age of 4 Professional children had 50 million words addressed to them Working class children had 30 million Welfare children had 12 million Professional children by the age of 4 have bigger vocabulary than welfare parents By the age 10, differences fully reflected in school achievement Meaningful differences in everyday experiences of young American children (1995) Betty Hart & Todd Risley

Geography matters

So we need an approach that tackles Skills – new ways to support literacy teaching and learning in schools and settings Attitudes – promotions and partnerships which grow the demand for literacy and reading skills in schools and the community Behaviour – a campaign to change behaviour, especially in families A place-based approach – local leadership, focus and capacity needed

An ecological model The child The family Friends and peers School life The wider community

A local literacy campaign Engages families and supports behaviour change Works through and with local cultural and community partners Uses media and other partnerships to make literacy attractive and relevant and a priority for everyone Supports schools and settings with resources, skills and partnerships

Peterborough Literacy Campaign Focus areas Early years work supporting families Transition from Key Stage 1 to 2 Transition from primary to secondary school Hub Manager: Sally Atkinson

What does this look like?

Launch event was attended by the Mayor, Lord Mawhinney and the key local authority partners. Love Peterborough poetry competition launched with local celebrity judges Warwick Davis and Mark Grist. In partnership with Stagecoach. Kyle Vassell (Peterborough United striker) at Leighton Primary School Local author Guy Bass on a story telling tour of schools

Partnerships across our Hubs Media partnersBrand and community partners

Activate your National Literacy Trust Network Membership Apply for the school library makeover! Contact for news and to pass on your Create your own projects and activities to engage parents and partners to get Peterborough Reading Include a commitment to the campaign as a mechanism to raise literacy in your school development plan When you celebrate reading and literacy use the logo What can you do?

“Why I read” - Richard Peck "I read because one life isn't enough, and in the page of a book I can be anybody; I read because the words that build the story become mine, to build my life; I read not for happy endings but for new beginnings; I'm just beginning myself, and I wouldn't mind a map; I read because I have friends who don't, and young though they are, they're beginning to run out of material; I read because every journey begins at the library, and it's time for me to start packing; I read because one of these days I'm going to get out of this town, and I'm going to go everywhere and meet everybody, and I want to be ready."

Thank you! on Twitter Befriend National Literacy Trust on Facebook