School Zone
You can make a huge difference this year by encouraging your pupils to take part in the Summer Reading Challenge over the holidays. It's the UK's biggest reading for pleasure programme for primary school children in libraries - in 2023 we reached close to 700,000 children.
It's free to take part and all children are welcome.
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE INFO PACK for school staff
Scroll down for free resources and activities to help get your pupils involved!
Benefits for pupils, families and your school
- The Challenge significantly improves children's reading skills and confidence
- Taking part can prevent the summer 'dip' in reading and aid the successful transition to new year groups and key stages
- During last year's Challenge, children read over 14 million books
- It's simple and free for every child to take part, and libraries run free activities for families throughout the holidays
What you can do now
Talk about the Challenge in your classroom
- Put up posters in your classroom and around school
- Discover exciting new books to share with your class by browsing the Official Marvellous Makers Book Collection
- Make use of our free activity sheets, author content and other resources
Get in touch with the library
Contact your local library service to find out what's on offer to your pupils. You can book a visit or special assembly!
Tell parents and carers
Download our handy newsletter templates to tell parents and carers about the Challenge and encourage them to take their children to the library over the holidays.
Key information about the Challenge is available in 23 languages, so you can spread the word!
What you can do in September
Celebrate pupils' reading when they get back to school!
Organise a special assembly to present pupils' Summer Reading Challenge certificates. (They'll get the certificates for free from the library or online.) Or, you could use your school newsletter to congratulate children who have completed the Challenge.
About the Summer Reading Challenge
What does the Challenge involve?
Click here for more information about how the Challenge works.
When does it start and how can children sign up?
The Challenge runs throughout the summer holidays in the majority of UK public libraries. Children can sign up at any time during the Challenge period, either at the library or on this website. Check start and finish dates with your local library service.
Who can take part?
The Summer Reading Challenge is a flexible programme, designed for all levels of ability. It is open to all children aged 4-11. Some library services also offer early years activities.
Young people and The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
Young people aged 14+ can volunteer at a library to support the delivery of the Summer Reading Challenge - and this can count towards the volunteering section of their DofE Award! Find out more.
If you know any young people who would like to volunteer, you can encourage them to contact their local library to ask about volunteering opportunities. You can also download a poster to promote volunteering opportunities in local secondary schools.
(Please note that volunteering opportunities and dates may vary depending on your local library authority.)
LoveReading4Kids
Books change lives. That's why The Reading Agency have teamed up with LoveReading4Kids so you can shop our booklists while giving 25% of money spent to schools in need.
You can purchase books via LoveReading4Kids to fund new books for schools. Why not try a title from this year's Summer Reading Challenge Book Collection?
The LoveReading family exists because reading matters, and books change lives. Cheerleaders of authors and illustrators everywhere, the leading book recommendation websites now feature an online bookstore with social purpose where 25% of money spent can be donated to a school close to the buyer’s heart, or to schools in need. Since 2005 families across the nation have used them to choose their next favourite book. Educators love their trusted content and 14,000 schools use the LoveReading4Schools Portal to encourage reading for pleasure and fund new books, with £50,000 already donated to schools.
Did you know?
We regularly have free display materials, activity packs and sets of reading group books available to schools throughout the year. Sign up to our newsletter to check these out.
Stay up to date with news about the Challenge and other exciting offers on our Facebook page.
More from The Reading Agency...
Chatterbooks
The Reading Agency also co-ordinates a national network of reading groups for children called Chatterbooks. Find out more about the resources available for you to set up your own children's reading group here. Visit our Shop to order a Chatterbooks group leader toolkit and to see our latest reading group offers. You can also find hundreds of free resources including reading group guides and activity packs on our resources page. If you would like more information about Chatterbooks please get in touch.
Reading Well for children
Reading Well for children provides quality-assured information, stories and advice to support children's mental health and wellbeing. Books have been chosen and recommended by leading health professionals and co-produced with children and families. The booklist is targeted at children in Key Stage 2 (aged 7-11), but includes titles aimed at a wide range of reading levels to support less confident readers, and to encourage children to read together with their siblings and carers. Find out more about the scheme and access supporting resources here.