We believe that reading should be a source of joy, curiosity, and imagination. Children who enjoy reading read more widely and more often, and as a result, achieve more highly.

Every school within the Trust fosters a community of readers, where books are visible, celebrated, and shared. Teachers read aloud to their pupils every day, using tone, rhythm, and expression to bring stories to life. Our libraries and classroom book corners are stocked with diverse, high-quality literature that reflects the world our pupils live in and the world they have yet to discover.

Teachers act as reading role models, sharing their own reading journeys and recommendations. Pupils have a voice in shaping their reading environments — helping to select new titles, organise reading displays, and lead book clubs. Reading for pleasure is woven through school life: through assemblies, author visits, reading challenges, and trust-wide initiatives that celebrate books and stories.

We know that when reading is associated with warmth, connection, and enjoyment, children are far more likely to become lifelong readers.