Wallbrook Primary Academy has teamed up with education publisher Hachette Learning to share insights into supporting reluctant and struggling readers and helping children discover a love of books.
The collaboration resulted in the feature blog post, ‘Top Tips for Supporting Reluctant or Struggling Readers’, being published on the Hachette Learning website, and explores the importance of making reading an enjoyable and rewarding experience for young learners.
The article highlights how positive experiences with books can help children discover the pleasure of becoming absorbed in a story, build their confidence and develop a lasting interest in reading.
Reading plays a vital role in children’s development, helping to strengthen vocabulary, comprehension, imagination and communication skills. Books also introduce young readers to new ideas, cultures and experiences, broadening their horizons and encouraging them to see the world from different perspectives.
For children who are reluctant to read or find it challenging, creating positive associations with books can be an important first step towards greater confidence and enjoyment. Helping pupils find stories that capture their interests can encourage them to read more often and discover the opportunities that reading opens up.
School Associate Principal, Sian Cook, said: “One of the greatest things we can give a child is the confidence to be curious about the world and to believe that there is always more to discover. Reading plays such an important part in that. Through stories, children can encounter lives different from their own, find the words to understand their own experiences and begin to see possibilities they may never have considered.
“Every child deserves to feel that sense of discovery. For some, that confidence comes quickly. For others, it takes time, encouragement and the right book to help them find their way in. What matters is that we keep opening those doors for our pupils, so they can grow not just as readers, but as learners, as individuals and in their understanding of the world around them.”
The blog contributed to the wider conversation about how to help every child become a confident reader, recognising that pupils develop at different rates and may need different forms of support. Hachette Learning provides educational resources and services for teachers, parents and pupils, working with educators to support learning and help children fulfil their potential.
At Wallbrook Primary Academy, this commitment to reading is reflected in the wider curriculum, where a range of approaches helps pupils develop fluency, comprehension and a love of literature. Daily Story Escape sessions give teachers time to share stories, model expressive reading and spark pupils’ curiosity, while a carefully selected collection of books and authors introduces children to a broad range of literature.
Reading is also encouraged beyond the classroom, with pupils able to take a book home each week and access online reading materials to enjoy with their families. Regular assessments help staff monitor progress and provide appropriate support, ensuring every child has the opportunity to become a confident and enthusiastic reader.
Together, these approaches reflect Wallbrook Primary Academy’s commitment to helping every child become a confident, capable and enthusiastic reader, both in the classroom and beyond.
Read the full ‘Top Tips for Supporting Reluctant or Struggling Readers’ article here.
