Far too many children are going to primary school with little to no reading experience or experience being read to by parents and guardians.
In this article, we look at the UK Government’s Education Committee’s review of the impact of screen time on children’s literacy.
We also examine other surveys and reports that reflect the findings from the Education Committee.
Statistics on Reading Enjoyment
The statistics from the most recent 2023 National Literacy Trust (NLT) children’s literacy survey are shocking to people of our and older generations, yet less so for parents, teachers, and children:
- In 2023, we recorded the lowest level of reading enjoyment since we started asking children and young people about this in 2005.
- Just 2 in 5 (43.4%) children and young people aged 8 to 18 said they enjoyed reading in their free time in 2023.
- Fewer than 3 in 10 (28.0%) children and young people aged 8 to 18 said that they read daily in 2023.
- There has been a 26% decrease in the number of children and young people aged 8 to 18 who read daily in their free time since 2005 (decreasing from 38.1% to 28.0%).
- Only 1 in 2 (52.9%) said they had been encouraged to read by their parents/carers.
- Only 3 in 5 (58.4%) had seen their parents/carers read.
- Only 1 in 5 (19.9%) had read with their family.
All of this is based on the NLT 2023 survey of 7,285 children aged 5 to 8 and 64,066 aged 8 to 18.
As the NLT says: “Our previous reports cautioned that increasingly visible downward trends in reading enjoyment and frequency should be addressed urgently. Declining reading enjoyment across a growing number of children and young people must act as a wake-up call for all who support children and young people’s reading for pleasure and the many benefits it can bring.”
Why Is Reading Activity in Children So Low?
There are numerous reasons why children don’t or won’t read, including a lack of enjoyment or encouragement to do so. In some cases, it’s due to disabilities (SEND) or because English isn’t their first language (EAL) :
- Pupils who speak English as an Additional Language (EAL) account for 22% of primary school children and 18% of secondary school students, according to The Bell Foundation.
- Currently, 1.5 million children in the UK are identified as having SEND, whether or not they are in mainstream schools.
- According to research from teachers and health visitors, “Only 35% of children with SEN had the emergent reading skills expected for their age by the time they started primary school [reception class KS1], compared with 82% of their peers.”
However, it’s impossible to ignore the impact of screen time. Many parents prefer giving young children a phone, tablet, or computer game or simply sticking them in front of a TV instead of spending some time reading with them.
It’s almost impossible for children to develop a love of reading if they:
- Aren’t read to from a young age (even if it is on a tablet)
- Aren’t encouraged to read
- Don’t see the adults in their lives reading
Screen Time and Its Impact on Children
Earlier this year, the UK Parliament’s Education Committee published its report, “Screen time: impacts on education and wellbeing.”
The findings were surprising, though perhaps not as shocking as expected given other factors at play (e.g., mental health, the economy, etc.):
- There has been a 52% increase in children’s screen time between 2020 and 2022.
- Nearly 25% of children and young people use their smartphones in a way that is consistent with a behavioural addiction.
- Screen use has been found to start as early as six months of age.
- One in five children aged between three and four years old have their own mobile phone.
- This increases to one in four children by age eight and to almost all children by age 12.
- The amount of time those aged 5–15 years old spent online rose from an average of nine hours per week in 2009 to 15 hours per week in 2018.
The Consequences of Excessive Screen Time
Excessive screen time can result in serious long-term consequences, including low levels of literacy. Consider the following:
- 20% of children in the UK do not achieve adequate literacy levels at school.
- The annual cost of illiteracy in the UK is up to £80 billion.
- Over 57% of people in prison are functionally illiterate.
- A National Literacy Trust report states: “1 in 6 (16.4%) adults in England are estimated to have very low literacy.”
- The average worker in the UK with very low literacy will earn approximately 7.1% less than if they had a basic level of literacy (Pro Bono Economics 2021).
ReadingWise: A Solution to Low Literacy and Reading Enjoyment
ReadingWise produces massive improvements in reading fluency, reading skills, and literacy in a short timescale. With our modules, you can help children who struggle with reading and encourage them to enjoy it.
A Department for Education (DfE) RCT study found that ReadingWise increased reading ages by 9.5 months in 1 term, with ReadingWise pupils improving twice as fast compared to the control group.
Over 300,000 pupils in UK schools have completed a ReadingWise programme. We hope to help you and your children too.
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