Today, the multi award-winning children’s book author and screenwriter, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, will host ‘The Reading Rights Summit’ at Liverpool’s iconic St George’s Hall as part of his tenure as the current Waterstones Children’s Laureate (2024-2026). 

Frank Cottrell-Boyce, said:

“Working with BookTrust in these first six months of my Laureateship I’ve visited lots of early years settings and seen astonishingly brilliant practice. I understand now – more than ever – just how urgent it is that we re-reset the conversation about reading. To use a government phrase: ‘de-silo reading’.  Yes, it’s important for educational attainment. Yes, DCMS, it’s the most crucial – and most democratic – part of our cultural heritage. Shared reading is an effective, economic health intervention, so yes, it’s essential, Wes Streeting, to mental health, to bonding, to attachment, to creating a situation where parents and carers can give the best, the most joyous start in life to our children.

“New research from BookTrust demonstrates this urgent need for support: 6 in 10 parents and carers of 0–7-year-olds wish they had known earlier just how important it is to read and share stories regularly with their children, and wish they had started doing so sooner[1]. Our children are near the top of the global leagues when it comes to the mechanical skill of reading but near the bottom when it comes to ’reading for pleasure’. We’ve taught them all the steps and the names of all the tunes. But they’re not dancing. That our children seem to be experiencing some kind of happiness recession at the moment is not surprising, and I believe that the decline in reading too has played its part in this.

“That’s why, as Children’s Laureate, I’ve worked with BookTrust to create this summit – together, we are going to discuss, share, challenge and develop our expertise and experiences. Together, we will develop a report that will help ensure the transformative gift of reading is shared with every single child. Because this is so, so doable but the longer we wait to address invisible privilege and inequality, the worse this becomes – more and more children fall further behind.”

LoveReading4Kids had the opportunity to chat with Frank early into his Laureateship, you can read the Q&A and watch him chatting to LoveReading4Kids MD Deborah Maclaren here.

About ‘The Reading Rights Summit’

‘The Reading Rights Summit’ – which is organised in partnership with the UK’s largest children’s reading charity, BookTrust, who manage the Laureateship – forms a key part of Cottrell-Boyce’s ‘Reading Rights: Books Build a Brighter Future’ campaign, which he launched on appointment as Children’s Laureate in July 2024.

Cottrell-Boyce aims to address ‘invisible privilege and inequality’ within books and reading, so that every child – from their earliest years – has access to the transformative ways in which they improve long-term life chances.  

What does the Reading Rights campaign aim to do? 

  • Ensure that every child has access to books and stories
  • Address inequality in reading and books
  • Promote the importance of reading and children's literature
  • Share the benefits of reading with every child

The day-long summit – the first of its kind led by a Children’s Laureate – will bring together high-profile, expert voices in the political, education, literacy, early years, arts and health sectors with a view to recommending an urgent course of action to policymakers that will help ensure that the 'life-changing benefits of children's reading are taken seriously’.

‘The Reading Rights Summit’ programme is divided into three key areas for improvement, identified by Cottrell-Boyce and BookTrust following a learning tour to early learning centres, nurseries, schools and family hubs across the UK. Summit speakers will call on the UK government to deliver on the following policy asks:

The best start in life: “We want to normalise sharing stories as part of the best start in life for every child, with midwives, health visitors and other early years professionals introducing reading to all families.”

This will be opened by a provocation from Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, followed by a panel chaired by Julie Hayward, Director of Partnerships, BookTrust with speakers including:

-          Anna Hartley, Executive Director of Public Health, Barnsley Council

-          Dr Sam Wass, Director, Institute for the Science of Early Years, University of East London

-          Cressida Cowell, best-selling author and illustrator of the How to Train Your Dragon series and former Children’s Laureate (2019-2022)

Nurseries and schools: “We want nurseries and schools to be equipped and supported so that sharing books and stories is at the heart of early education for every child.”

This will be opened by a provocation from Michael Rosen, best-selling author, Professor of Children’s Literature at Goldsmiths, University of London, and former Children’s Laureate (2007-2009), followed by a panel chaired by – - - Ruthann Hughes, Director of Research and Impact, BookTrust with speakers including:

-          Neil Leitch, Chief Executive, Early Years Alliance

-          Dr Julian Grenier, Senior Content & Engagement Manager, Education Endowment Foundation

-          Sonia Thompson, Headteacher, St. Matthew's C.E. Primary Research and Support School

Families and communities: “We want all families and communities, including those experiencing vulnerability, to be supported to make reading and storytelling part of daily life.” 

This will be opened by a provocation from Alex McCormick, Spellow Library fundraiser, followed by a panel chaired by Annie Crombie, Deputy CEO, BookTrust, with speakers including:

-          Sarah Thomas, CEO, Fostering Network

-          Lucy Peake, CEO, Kinship

-          Ruth Terry, Executive Director, Social Care & Practise, Bradford Children and Families Trust

-          Sally Pearse, Strategic Lead for Early Years and Director, Sheffield Hallam University

Rachel De Souza, Children’s Commissioner for England, will close the summit with a keynote speech, and former Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell (2015-2017) will commemorate the day with special ‘behind the scenes’ live illustrations.

Why Early Years is a Crucial Time for Children

Diana Gerald MBE, CEO of BookTrust, said: "Sadly, too many children from low-income families don't get the start in life they deserve. However, we know that early years experiences that include shared reading can change this and are critical to giving children the best start in life. Reading regularly with a child from the earliest moments in childhood has a measurable impact on their development and wellbeing and helps children overcome disadvantages caused by inequalities. That's why BookTrust partnered with over 4,700 early years settings last year to provide high-quality shared reading support for families.

"But there is much more to be done. There must now be urgent investment in quality provision that places child development at the heart of the early years system so that the benefits of early reading and the magic of sharing stories can be experienced by every family, in every community. There has never been a more urgent time for us to inspire a new generation of children on their reading journeys."

A report summarising key learnings and policy recommendations from ‘The Reading Rights Summit’ will be published by BookTrust in spring 2025. Find out more at BookTrust.