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Building strong foundations for children across Wales through books…

Discover the difference our programmes make, including how Denbighshire library service uses BookTrust Cymru’s Bookstart programmes to boost families’ confidence in sharing books together, in both English and Welsh: bit.ly/3VocwPe

booktrust.org.uk

Now is the time to strengthen support for early years reading, so every child in Wales can experience the benefits of books and shared reading from the…

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➡️Please share and show your support for long-term funding for early years reading support for every child in Wales.

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We’re calling on the Welsh Government to guarantee long-term investment in BookTrust Cymru’s reading programmes, so every child in Wales can benefit from books, stories and reading from the very beginning.

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📚At a time when concerns about literacy standards are growing across Wales, investing in early years shared reading has never been more important.

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BookTrust Cymru's evidence-based, bi-lingual programmes help more children experience the life-changing benefits of reading, supporting families to share stories, build confidence, develop early language and literacy, and create meaningful moments together from the earliest months of life.

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BookTrust @booktrust.org.uk · 26/09/2026

📢 Let’s make early years reading a long-term national priority for Wales…

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What a story time we had yesterday - with none other than Dame Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler, and the Gruffalo! 💫 It was a joy to join children in Bath for this very special event, made possible thanks to our partnership with Macmillan Children's Books. Find out more: bit.ly/3Vc7ghE

Julia and Axel at the Gruffalo Granny event at Bath Central Library

BookTrust @booktrust.org.uk · 25/09/2026

We've worked with Wandle English Hub to create Sharing Stories at Home, new resources helping teachers to host engaging and practical workshops about shared reading for families in Reception. Here's Matthew Courtney from Wandle English Hub to explain how we went about it! 👉 bit.ly/4cWz7IC

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Enrichment through reading: DFE Enrichment Framework 2026

There are lots of ways to bring reading into your school’s enrichment offer. These might be centred around explicit reading activities, like book clubs, or incorporated into wider activities. Find out everything you need to know about reading as enrichment in our new blog: bit.ly/4rwBiZu

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We share our insights into the DFE's new Enrichment framework, demonstrating how reading can be a vital ingredient in enrichment provision.

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Reading can help schools meet enrichment expectations across multiple areas. For example, while closely linked to the Framework’s arts and culture category, it also supports civic engagement by building critical thinking, or nature and adventure by sparking curiosity and imagination.

While reading remains central to the core curriculum, the new enrichment framework highlights opportunities to embed it across the broader school experience, strengthening its well-evidenced benefits for children’s learning, wellbeing and life chances.

A key indicator of a successful enrichment offer is that it enables children to access a range of activities across the following categories: nature, outdoors and adventure; sport and physical activities and developing wider life and future skills.

The DfE’s new Enrichment Framework provides non-statutory guidance for schools in England to support them to plan, strengthen and review their enrichment offer.

Enrichment encompasses a wide range of opportunities offered in school beyond the core curriculum. These may be ‘co-curricular’ activities (linked to the curriculum) or ‘extra-curricular’ activities that develop additional skills, knowledge and interests.

The DfE’s 2026 Enrichment Framework recognises the value of enrichment for children’s development, wellbeing and future skills. We know that reading can be a vital ingredient in enrichment provision, and here's why...

BookTrust @booktrust.org.uk · 23/09/2026

We're so grateful for all the work @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social has done as part of the Reading Rights campaign to make reading a universal part of childhood, not an invisible privilege. We just had to share this wonderful clip to celebrate his birthday today. Happy Birthday Frank! 🎂

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BookTrust @booktrust.org.uk · 22/09/2026

🚨 Don't miss out on our #BookTrustRepresents Spread the Story competition! Here's what it meant to Jessica and her school to win last year's competition - all made possible thanks to the incredible support of Enterprise Mobility™. Find out about this year's competition: bit.ly/4xEkocY

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BookTrust @booktrust.org.uk · 21/09/2026

Exciting news! We’re extending registration for #Bookbuzz Primary until December 🎉 In the #NationalYearOfReading2026, we wanted to give even more Key Stage 2 children the chance to choose a fantastic book from our curated selection. Find out more about Bookbuzz Primary 👇 bit.ly/3V0EFf1

BookTrust @booktrust.org.uk · 17/09/2026

Did you know that 58% of children in the UK don’t have a bedtime story? 📚 But by remembering BookTrust in your will, you can help ensure that future children and families benefit from the life-changing power of stories. Find out more here: bit.ly/3TAUAjP

An image of a cute young child looking directly at the camera while holding on to boxes of books, plus the words: "Create a brighter future for a child with a gift in your will"

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BookTrust @booktrust.org.uk · 16/09/2026

📚 We know the transition to school is a critical time for reading enjoyment. Our Sharing Stories at Home workshops for families - created in partnership with Wandle English Hub - are now available, helping you to support reading for pleasure among your newest pupils 👇 bit.ly/4xVS7zx

A photo of two primary school children in the library, with a quote from Matthew Courtney, Strategic Lead of Wandle English Hub and Director of Wandle Learning Partnership.

“At the very point when children’s reading enjoyment begins to decline, access to books is uneven. This makes the role of the school especially important - both in providing access to a rich range of texts and in shaping the kinds of reading experiences that help children develop a lasting connection with reading.”

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10. Use #Bookbuzz Primary - our programme that has been specially designed to support book choice skills, and gives every child the chance to choose a book to keep! Registration closes on Friday - find out more here 👉 bit.ly/3UTeXcl

9. Help children explore how to select a book. Try looking at the cover, reading the blurb, exploring the first few lines, or discussing recommendations. You could have a ‘book tasting’ or ‘book picnic’!

8. Use pupil ‘reading champions’ from across the school. You could invite them to share their favourite books or help to curate selections.

7. Think about ‘choice and voice’. Use pupils’ interests and preferences to help provide new book choices.

6. Think about the physical space. Do your displays incorporate books? Could your students help you create a book display around a theme or event?

5. Model and encourage ‘book talk’. This can be peer-to-peer or with adults; in informal moments, such as at breaktime, or during more formal moments in the classroom.

4. Allow students to put a book back if they're not enjoying it (and encourage them to pick again!) Trying out things and realising what they do and don't like helps them to develop an identity as a reader.

3. Simplify your book space in the classroom to make choosing easier and less overwhelming for children. Try facing the book covers out - this can make a big difference.

2. Choose books that children may not have experienced before for read alouds. This is a great way for everyone to experience the book or author together!

1. Give children access to all different types of reading materials. This could be novels, picture books, graphic novels, non-fiction, poetry, verse novels, magazines or comics.

BookTrust @booktrust.org.uk · 14/09/2026

Giving children choice when it comes to books is really important for building reading enjoyment 📚 But how can you bring book choice into the classroom? Here are 10 ideas 👇

A box reading "10 top tips for supporting book choice in the classroom" plus illustrations of rainbows and a stack of books

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#BookTrustRepresents is back for another school year and we couldn't be more excited! We'll be bringing these absolutely amazing authors direct to your classroom with our virtual author workshops - and it's totally free to sign up. Take a look: bit.ly/3Vs35y7

This year's free virtual author workshops for schools with BookTrust Represents. Photos of six authors and their book covers - Love Ssega, Kengo Kurimoto, Lui Sit, Isaac Hamilton-McKenzie, Rashmi Sirdeshpande, Luan Goldie.

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BookTrust @booktrust.org.uk · 11/09/2026

Choosing an amazing book to take home and keep? Easy. Waiting to get your hands on it? Nail biting stuff! #Bookbuzz Secondary makes it easy for your Year 7 & 8 students to get excited about reading. Find out more and get your school involved: bit.ly/4yzfTkN

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BookTrust @booktrust.org.uk · 10/09/2026

This generous donation from Macmillan Children's Books - delivered through libraries along with #BookstartStorytime books and resources - will help boost shared reading in underserved communities. Find out more here: bit.ly/4gHFGBf

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BookTrust and Macmillan Children’s Books bring Gruffalo Granny to…

BookTrust will be sending copies of the Gruffalo books to libraries across the country along with exclusive activity sheets.

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BookTrust @booktrust.org.uk · 10/09/2026

It's #GruffaloGranny publication day! 🎉 We're sending a huge thank you to Macmillan Children's Books for teaming up with us to send 40,000 Gruffalo books to families through libraries across the country this year, including Gruffalo Granny.

The front cover of Gruffalo Granny and the words: "40,000: The number of Gruffalo books we're sending to families through libraries across the country, thanks to a generous donation from Macmillan Children's Books"

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We know teachers are busy - especially as they head back to school. So we set ourselves a challenge. Could we introduce you to all of the #Bookbuzz Primary books in 60 seconds? Watch the video to see if George manages it 😂

The more we help create positive memories of books and reading for children during their early years, the more likely they are to become lifelong readers. Together, BookTrust and Build-A-Bear Foundation are creating these special childhood memories that encourage a love of books later in life 💙

The partnership involves getting these high-quality books, resources and evidence-based reading support, along with huggable ‘Reading Buddy’ bears from Build-A-Bear Foundation, right into the heart of communities, for families to take home and keep.

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As the UK Literacy Partner for Build-A-Bear Foundation, last year, BookTrust was able to reach 37,000 children with our Bookstart Toddler and Pre-schooler family reading programme.

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It's Teddy Bear Day 🧸 and we can't stop thinking about these gorgeous 'Reading Buddy' bears! Thanks to our partnership with Build-A-Bear Foundation, BookTrust was able to deliver 1,032 Reading Buddy bears to nursery children to encourage families to enjoy books together. And there's more...

A graphic with a photo of a toddler smiling excitedly while hugging a teddy bear. A quote from Izzy Martin, Early Years Librarian at Hertfordshire Libraries, says: "Seeing the children’s faces light up as they came into the library and chose their Reading Buddy bear will stay with me for a long time."

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Jon Biddle @jonnybid.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

We are so excited about these!

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Reposted by BookTrust

Do take a look at the free @booktrust.org.uk Represents online author workshops taking place this year. There are six planned, suitable for Years 3-7, featuring an exciting selection of authors & illustrators. The first, with Love Ssega, takes place on 7 October. www.booktrust.org.uk/how-we-help/...

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The Sharing Stories at Home resources include: - A workshop template 📋 - Guidance for you ✏️ - Information for parents and carers 💡 - Videos with families 📺 Find them all here: bit.ly/4cBwoUW

A photo of a man and a woman in a school classroom looking at books together, plus the logos for BookTrust, Wandle English Hub and Wandle Learning Trust. And the words: "Discover your free Sharing Stories at Home resources today"

We're here to help! We've teamed up with Wandle English Hub to create Sharing Stories at Home - free resources developed with schools and families to make sure they are rooted in their real experiences. 👇

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Starting school brings new routines and a chance to build early relationships with parents and carers and strengthen connections between home and school. This creates an opportunity to embed shared reading from the start. But how can you get started? 👇

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