TACT ‘Go All In’ On National Year Of Reading Campaign
Reading for enjoyment is at the lowest levels since records began. Only 1 in 3 children and young people aged 3-18 enjoy reading in their free time, and only 1 in 5 read daily. To try and tackle these issues, the Department for Education in collaboration with the National Literacy Trust have nominated 2026 to run a 3rd National Year of Reading campaign, with the theme title of Go All In.
Decline in ‘Reading For Pleasure’ in Children & Young People
A decline in reading can directly impact on academic achievement, mental wellbeing and even future earnings. In the UK, currently 7.1 million adults struggle to read. Research has shown that children who are confident readers by the end of primary school can earn £65,000+ more over their lifetime compared to non-readers. Disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) are also disproportionately affected by this decline in reading.
The National Literacy Trust have released findings from a recent survey focusing on reading for pleasure in children and young people aged 8-18:
- Enjoyment: Just over 1 in 3 (32.7% – 34.6%) enjoy reading in their free time, a significant drop from previous years.
- Daily Reading: Only about 1 in 5 (18.7%) read something daily for pleasure, a steep decline since 2005.
- Age Trends: Enjoyment drops significantly with age, from over 70% for 5-8 year olds to around 40% for 14-16 year olds.
- Gender Gap: Girls consistently report higher enjoyment, though the gap has narrowed as boys enjoyment fell less sharply than girls.
- Socio-economic: Fewer children receiving free school meals (FSMs) enjoy reading compared to their peers.
What is The ‘Go All In’ National Year of Reading campaign?
Go All In is essentially the theme for the National Year of Reading 2026 campaign. It hasn’t been a regular annual event; previous campaigns took place in 1998 and 2008. What makes the 2026 initiative so different is that it will be the first to operate in the age of smartphones and AI. With online devices becoming increasingly important to young people, the aim is to promote a love of reading and transform the nation’s reading culture longer term. Specifically, the Go All In campaign aims to encourage young people to read about their hobbies, interests and passions (including music, films, food or sport) using a wide range of different formats to make reading more culturally relevant.
Commissioned by the Government, the campaign is part-funded by the Department for Education – with additional funding and support from organisations such as Arts Council England, the Julia Rausing Trust, the Clore Duffield Foundation, and the Booksellers’ Association.
According to the National Year of Reading website, “The ambition is that the National Year of Reading 2026 will make lasting change to the reading habits of the nation to reverse the decline in reading for pleasure and unlock one of the most powerful tools for equity and opportunity: a love of reading that lasts a lifetime.”
Throughout 2026, there will be a number of events and activities planned via the Go All In website. You can sign up for regular updates.
Aside from the campaign, there has already been a significant investment in school libraries, with £10 million being earmarked to ensure all primary schools have a library. In addition, 72,000 free books will be given to children and young people in high-poverty areas in order to start positive reading habits.
TACT Education Service staff catching up on their reading: Sam Gray (L) & Tina Bull (R)
What are TACT doing to support the Go All In National Year of Reading?
TACT’s dedicated Education Service (who are all teachers who love reading!) are planning a whole calendar of events across 2026. The activities, available to foster carers, children and staff within TACT, will be specifically aimed to get our children off their screens and engaged in a range of different activities to exercise their imaginations! Some amazing authors and illustrators have been carefully chosen to work with us, and who will be providing some online talks and draw-alongs for our children.
Some of our planned activities include:
- Recorded stories weekly for children
- Monthly newsletter with featured authors
- Regular fun competitions, with prizes for every child and young person who enters
- In collaboration with The Book Trust, a supply of books for our early years children
- A free book for all of our children and young people
- Foster carer webinars to support children with phonics and paired reading
For TACT’s Education Service, children’s reading has always been a top tier priority. In the Summer of 2025, 80% of our Year 6 children achieved the expected standard in reading in their Key Stage 2 SATs, which was 5% higher than the national average.
As a charity who re-invests surplus income directly into supporting our children, we are pleased to be supporting a campaign that is so dear to our hearts, and look forward to a national year of reading!
Read more about our Education Service.