Supporting Reluctant Readers: Guides for schools
Not every child finds reading easy or enjoyable...
For many pupils, reading has become something they actively avoid, rather than something they feel confident or curious about. That’s why, together with The Rebel Reading Society, we created the Supporting Reluctant Reader packs: to offer thoughtful, practical support for parents of pupils whose relationship with reading has become fragile or strained and to help schools extend that support beyond the classroom and into the home.
Too many young people are now classed as reluctant readers. Pupils who can decode but choose not to read; pupils who feel reading “isn’t for them”; and pupils whose confidence has been worn down by repeated struggle, comparison with peers, or a sense that they are not meeting academic expectations.
While many schools already have strong reading provision in place, these pupils often need something different. Rather than more pressure, additional interventions or extra guided groups, they benefit from a reset in how reading is talked about, supported and experienced, particularly at home. When schools and families share consistent, reassuring messages about reading, pupils are far more likely to rebuild confidence and re-engage.
The Supporting Reluctant Reader packs were designed specifically for pupils who are hesitant, disengaged, or quietly opting out of reading, and for the adults supporting them at home. They are grounded in the belief that strengthening a child’s relationship with reading works best when schools and families are aligned.
The packs aim to rebuild confidence, encourage reading for pleasure and help pupils recognise the value and enjoyment of reading beyond school tasks. They support pupils to reconnect with texts in low-stakes, non-judgemental ways by prioritising choice, autonomy and personal interest. The packs also help develop positive and sustainable reading habits at home through routines that feel manageable for families, while providing parents with clear, practical guidance that aligns with school practice. This approach ensures consistent, supportive messages about reading across home and school.
Why schools choose to invest
Schools who purchase the packs can use them flexibly to support families in ways that suit their needs. The resources are practical and parent-friendly: they can be printed and distributed directly to families, shared digitally via email or newsletters or used in video presentations during curriculum evenings or parent events. Schools also have the option to fully customise the packs to reflect their branding, allowing them to integrate seamlessly into whole-school reading initiatives.
Schools invest in these packs not because they need more reading resources, but because they want a more effective way to support reluctant readers beyond school and strengthen the home–school relationship. For a small investment, schools can make a meaningful difference to pupils’ confidence, engagement and enjoyment of reading, which will have a lasting impact upon their overall life outcomes. They are especially timely for the National Year of Reading. To find out more about how the Supporting Reluctant Reader packs could work in your school, get in touch today.
Secondary-aged version available. Simply fill in the contact form or email [email protected] to request a ‘Supporting Reluctant Readers: Practical tips for parents of secondary-aged children’ sample pack.
