National Year of Reading

📚 Going All In: How the National Year of Reading 2026 Can Transform School Reading Culture

Reading has always been one of the simplest, most powerful tools we have for shaping young lives — yet in recent years, it’s slipped into the background for many children. That’s why 2026, the official National Year of Reading, arrives not just as a celebration, but as a call to action. It’s an invitation for schools, families, and communities to go all in and rebuild a culture where reading is joyful, social, inclusive, and deeply connected to the world children care about.

And at the heart of this movement, Laburnum House Educational is ready to help schools turn this national moment into lasting change.

🌟 Why the National Year of Reading Matters

The campaign’s message is simple: reading doesn’t have to compete with children’s interests — it can connect with them. Whether a child loves football, gaming, baking, animals, or outer space, there’s a book that can spark curiosity and confidence.

But the urgency is real. Reading enjoyment has been declining for years, and schools are feeling the impact. Teachers are working harder than ever to engage pupils who may not see reading as “for them.” That’s why this year is designed to be bold, creative, and culturally relevant — a chance to reimagine what reading looks like in classrooms, corridors, and homes.

Reconnecting reading with culture

Boosting wellbeing and confidence

Supporting families to model reading at home

Creating a national movement around books

📘 Laburnum House Educational: A Partner Schools Can Trust

For more than 30 years, Laburnum House Educational has been helping schools build reading cultures that are vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable. Based in Gainsborough and serving schools across the UK, Laburnum House specialises in high‑quality books with discounts up to half price — making it easier for schools to refresh their libraries without stretching their budgets.

Here’s what sets Laburnum House apart:

Heavily discounted books for schools

A huge range of Accelerated Reader titles

Fast, friendly customer service

Free delivery over £75

Decades of expertise in school literacy

This isn’t just about supplying books — it’s about helping schools create environments where reading feels exciting, accessible, and part of everyday life.

📚 What Schools Can Do in 2026 — With Support from Laburnum House

The National Year of Reading is the perfect moment to try new ideas, refresh old ones, and bring reading into unexpected spaces. Laburnum House can help schools make the most of the year with practical, high‑impact approaches such as:

Themed reading corners that reflect pupils’ passions

Library refreshes with diverse, modern, high‑interest titles

Cross‑curricular reading links to science, history, art, and PSHE

Family reading events that strengthen home–school connections

Inclusive collections for reluctant readers, EAL learners, and dyslexia‑friendly needs

These ideas don’t just boost reading — they build community, confidence, and curiosity.

🌈 A Moment of Opportunity

The National Year of Reading isn’t just a campaign. It’s a chance to reset the narrative around reading and give children the tools they need to thrive academically, emotionally, and socially.

With Laburnum House Educational as a partner, schools can make 2026 a turning point — a year where reading becomes joyful again, where libraries feel alive, and where every child can find a book that speaks to them.

Why not check out some of the resources that Laburnum House Educational has to offer? You’ll find a selection covering a wide range of reading for pleasure and including books for Accelerated Reader for all age ranges.

Reading for pleasure collections:

Fiction: Reading For Pleasure Book Packs

Non Fiction: Reading For Pleasure: Non Fiction

Accelerated Reader collections:

Primary: Accelerated Reader Packs For Primary

Secondary: Accelerated Packs For Secondary