Press release: New reading for pleasure course for Scottish primary school teachers

Scottish Book Trust is launching a new course for primary school teachers to develop and sustain reading for pleasure. It’s the first programme of its kind by Scotland’s national charity changing lives with reading and writing, and applications are now open until 31 May.

The Developing and Sustaining Reading for Pleasure course, endorsed by Education Scotland, is a national online programme for primary teachers in Scotland. It is designed to enhance their professional knowledge and practice of reading for pleasure, with the aim of encouraging and supporting children to be frequent regular readers.

Research shows that children who read for pleasure have a better sense of wellbeing, and they are shown to reach greater levels of attainment in all subjects.

Pauline Bird, Scottish Book Trust’s School Communities Manager, said:

‘At Scottish Book Trust we see teachers as being vital to encouraging reading for pleasure, and we know this course will inspire, generate fun new ideas as well as introduce a wealth of brilliant new children’s writing that pupils will be eager to read.

‘Research shows that reading for enjoyment is the single most important indicator of a child’s future success and finding ways to engage pupils in reading may be one of the most effective ways to boost their attainment levels.’

Through this course, primary school teachers will gain the skills, knowledge and expertise to learn how to support and motivate pupils to read for enjoyment; they will gain an understanding of inclusive formats and texts and will learn how to deepen and enrich their own knowledge of contemporary children’s books.

The programme, delivered online, runs from September 2024 until June 2025, and costs £150. Applications can be completed through our online form.

- ENDS

Please direct all media requests to Caroline Young, Marketing and PR Manager at Scottish Book Trust at [email protected](this link will open in a new window).

Notes to editors

Research into reading for pleasure was conducted by Egmont Books in February 2020.

Scottish Book Trust

Scottish Book Trust is a national charity that believes everyone living in Scotland should have equal access to books. Our work provides opportunities to improve life chances through books and the fundamental skills of reading and writing. Access to books and a love of books bring many important benefits from family bonding and advancing children’s learning, to unlocking creativity, helping employability and improving mental health and wellbeing. Scottish Book Trust aims to support all communities across Scotland, with particular focus on those who are vulnerable and under-represented.

Our programmes and outreach work include:

• Gifting books to every child in Scotland to ensure families of all backgrounds can share the joy of books at home, through Bookbug and Read, Write, Count
• Working with teachers to inspire children to develop a love of reading, creating innovative classroom activities, book awards and author events such as Authors Live with the BBC and our Scottish Friendly Children's Book Tour
• Supporting and nurturing Scotland's wide-ranging literary talent, both emerging and established through our training, awards and writing opportunities including New Writers Awards
• Creating events to share books and connect writers with communities, including Book Week Scotland
• Providing support to people living with dementia and their carers through Reading is Caring

In addition to the funding we receive from the Scottish Government and Creative Scotland, we need the constant support of trusts and foundations, corporate sponsors and individual donors.

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