This information is brought to you by Slough Borough Council's Early Years team, on behalf of Book Trust for the attention of all Early Years settings.
Starting school: a critical moment to support reading… | BookTrust
Starting school: a critical moment to support reading enjoyment
Find out about why starting school is a critical moment in children’s reading journeys, and how to support reading enjoyment at this stage in our evidence-informed guide which draws on insights from BookTrust’s National Family Survey and wider research.
In our guide, you will find:
- Why starting school is a critical moment
- The latest research findings on reading enjoyment at ages 4 to 5
- What is happening at this stage and how this shapes children’s and families’ experiences
- How parents and carers are open to support, which is an important equaliser
- Practical ideas and resources for teachers and early years professionals to help support children’s reading enjoyment as they start school and beyond
To cite this guide: BookTrust (2026) Starting school: a critical moment to support reading enjoyment. Leeds: BookTrust