The government has announced up to £15 million to help bring books into the homes of as many as 300,000 pre-school children in England. The investment, revealed at the Budget, aims to give young children a stronger start before they begin school and help families build reading into everyday life.
The programme will focus on children in the early years, when sharing stories can help develop communication, confidence and curiosity. Wider access to books may also ease some of the costs families face, while giving children the chance to enjoy stories and learning regardless of their background or postcode.
The announcement builds on the work of organisations such as Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library UK and BookTrust, which already provide free books to children and families. The Imagination Library has gifted almost eight million age-appropriate books to children under five since it launched in 2007. Nearly 100,000 children currently receive a free book each month through the programme.
BookTrust, meanwhile, reaches more than 1.4 million children and families each year with free books and early-years resources. Its work includes engaging around 93% of newborns and encouraging 84% of parents on low incomes to read more with their families.
The government says early access to books can help children develop skills they will use in the classroom. Last year, 72.3% of children reached a good level of development by the end of Reception. The government says it is on track to meet its target of 75% by 2028.
The book-gifting plan forms part of a wider effort to encourage reading at home and in schools. Around 1,000 Best Start Family Hubs are being rolled out across the country, working with the National Literacy Trust and BookTrust to support families and promote shared reading.
There is also funding for school libraries and reading materials. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has committed £12.5 million from dormant assets funding to help ensure every primary school in England has a library by the end of this Parliament. A further £5 million will help secondary schools buy books and other materials designed to encourage reading for pleasure.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said books can help curiosity take root and give every child access to learning and creativity. Early Education Minister Paul Waugh added that reading together offers families valuable time as well as helping children explore stories and build confidence.
Arts Council England will deliver the new funding, with further details about how the programme will work due to be published later. Arts Council chief executive Darren Henley welcomed the investment, saying books can open minds, spark imagination and change lives.
The Budget also includes wider support for young people’s cultural opportunities. This includes £22.5 million for youth-led cultural activities in some of England’s most deprived areas, alongside £132.5 million for disadvantaged young people. That package includes funding for music in libraries and creative mentoring for care-experienced young people.
The new programme is intended to help more children discover books before their first day at school. For families, the hope is that an early shared story can become the beginning of a lasting habit and a lifelong enjoyment of reading.
