Reading for pleasure is essential in building children’s confidence, empathy and learning, a leading primary teacher said today.
The Downs Malvern, which educates children from six months to 13 years, places literacy at the heart of daily life, fostering what staff describe as a “language-rich environment” where stories, vocabulary and discussion shape the school experience from the earliest years.
Research from the National Literacy Trust (NLT) highlights the wider benefits of reading for pleasure, from building confidence and empathy to supporting academic development.
Its recent findings show that 26% of children and young people who read in their free time at least once a month say it helps them feel confident, while other studies link reading enjoyment to stronger literacy skills, imagination and emotional understanding.
Ahead of World Book Day, Emily Willetts, Head of Pre-Prep at The Downs Malvern, said schools needed to use the annual event needed to shift focus back to reading.
“Confidence is one of the most powerful outcomes of reading for pleasure,” she said.
“At The Downs Malvern, we see how children who read widely develop the confidence to be curious, the confidence to collaborate with others, and the confidence to be ambitious in their learning.
“Books also play a vital role in helping children understand the world beyond their own experiences. Reading introduces new perspectives, which helps to nurture empathy and emotional awareness.”
Research also shows that reading for enjoyment supports attainment. Twice as many children who enjoy reading in their free time demonstrate above-average reading skills compared with those who do not.
“Reading for pleasure strengthens learning in every subject,” Emily said.
“It expand vocabulary, fuels imagination, sparks creativity and opens doors to new ideas, people and places.
“Whether through fiction, fantasy, biography or non-fiction, books help children explore, question and discover.”
This reading-centred culture, she said, stands in contrast to recent NLT findings showing that reading enjoyment continues to decline nationally.
Figures indicate that just one in three children now enjoys reading, while daily reading drops significantly as pupils grow older. Fewer than one in 10 boys aged 14 to 16 read every day – a trend linked to lower attainment, reduced confidence and poorer wellbeing.
One in 10 children and young people aged five to 18 say they do not have a book of their
own at home.
“Those statistics are a reminder that a love of reading cannot be left to chance,” Emily said.
“It must be nurtured consistently, both at school and at home.
“World Book Day has enormous value but we have to be honest, in many places it risks becoming more about fancy dress than fostering a genuine love of reading.
“Dressing up is fun, but it cannot be the main event when national literacy data is flashing red.
“Reading for pleasure is not a seasonal activity. It underpins academic success, confidence, communication skills and mental wellbeing. If we reduce books to a once-a-year celebration, we risk trivialising something that is fundamental to children’s futures.”
At The Downs Malvern, World Book Day activities are designed to reinforce reading engagement.
This year, Pre-Prep pupils will ‘disguise’ as favourite book characters using small imaginative elements rather than full costumes. Prep pupils will take part in a door-decorating initiative and the school’s first House Reading Competition. Pupils will also be invited to participate in the Malvern College family of schools’ literary competition for Years 3 to 13.
Emily added that reading should remain broad and accessible.
“Not every child is immediately drawn to traditional novels, and that’s absolutely fine,” she said.
“Graphic novels, magazines, non-fiction and audiobooks all play an important role in helping children build positive relationships with reading, especially for those who may be more reluctant.”
The school’s Pre-Prep team encourages parents to support reading at home by reading aloud regularly, reinforcing sounds through play, linking literacy to everyday life, using songs and rhyme, and celebrating small achievements.
“Reading confidence grows when reading is associated with pleasure,” Emily said.
“That is something we are deeply committed to cultivating every day.”
Emily Willetts, Head of Pre-Prep
The Downs Malvern