Why reading matters

Register now to receive your free Readathon reading resource pack...

Click here to find out how your school can earn free books!

Children read more books and their appetite for reading improves considerably.

They learn the value of helping others.

Parents are very happy with all the extra reading activity generated by Readathon.

Any teacher who runs three or more Readathons receives a testimonial from the National Reading Campaign in recognition of their commitment to reading.

Money collected by your school helps charities who support children and young people with serious illnesses.

Independent studies show again and again how learning to love reading can transform a child’s prospects for success in school and the world beyond.

The latest research from the National Literacy Trust shows that 80% of children who read above the expected level for their age have books of their own; while only 58% who read below their expected level have books of their own.

“…by encouraging children to love reading, families can help them to do well at school and to enjoy opportunites throughout their life.”

Jonathan Douglas, Director of the National Literacy Trust.

In its 2008 report Literacy Changes Lives, the National Literacy Trust concluded:

“…reading for pleasure has been revealed as the most important indicator of the future success of a child”

“…research presents overwhelming evidence that literacy has a significant relationship with a person’s happiness and success.”

“…reading for pleasure is more important for children’s educational success than their family’s socio-economic status.”

Click here to view the entire report from the National Literacy Trust.

It is a view echoed in To Read or Not To Read, a report from the US National Endowment for the Arts

“Voluntary reading involves personal choice, reading widely from a variety of sources, and choosing what one reads… people who have the ability to read but choose not to, miss just as much as those who cannot read at all. Individuals read to live life to its fullest, to earn a living, to understand what is going on in the world, and to benefit from the accumulated knowledge of civilization. Even the benefits of democracy, and the capacity to govern ourselves successfully, depend on reading.”

Readathon will help you to unlock potential by encouraging pupils to discover just how rewarding reading can be.

Readathon is often a life changing experience. And such a worthwhile event is rarely this easy.

Readathon is free and couldn’t be easier to run.

Apply for your Readathon pack. You can do this online - just click here!

Your pack contains everything you need, including sponsorship forms, to help you make the most of the event.

Then follow our guide on how to collect and send your sponsorship money – easy to do either online or by post.

You decide. You can run Readathon whenever you like – including during school holidays. Readathon is a perfect way to celebrate all sorts of events such as Roald Dahl Day (13th September) or Children’s Book Week (starts 5th October).

Readathon gives schools a straightforward, motivating and rewarding way to boost the reading skills of all their pupils – boys as well as girls.
The more children read, the better their chances of succeeding in school and the world beyond.
Readathon has been going for 25 years and has raised over £21 million to support children with serious illnesses.
Every school taking part in Readathon can buy half-price Penguin, Puffin, Dorling Kindersley and Ladybird books.

Readathon is the UK’s National Sponsored Reading Event. It gives a massive boost to pupils’ reading skills AND supports the life-changing work of two fantastic children’s charities. Every year thousands of schools across the UK take part.

This year we want YOURS to be one of them.