National Literacy Trust

Our research shows that AI use among young people has doubled over the last year, but only 3 in 10 teachers are using it to support their role and 2 in 5 have concerns about AI. Irene Picton, our Senior Research Manager, talks about the latest findings in this exclusive. ⤵

Last week the government announced that it will create a £3million content store to train AI to be more reliable to help teachers mark work and plan lessons.    The announcement has reignited debates around AI's potential benefits to schools verses fears about its potential misuse. Our own research, published earlier this year, shows that a third of teachers worry about the impact of AI on students' literacy. However, there is potential to reduce teacher workloads and assist with routine school administrative tasks.   Although AI use has doubled in one year among pupils, less than 5% of teachers told us that they use it for marking assessments, and only 1 in 10 teachers say their school has an AI policy.   Read more about AI in education - including perspectives from teachers and the best AI tools - in our recent blog ⤵ https://lnkd.in/ecJzqVa4

Our Inclusive Libraries Conference is happening next week! We still have spaces available for the Leeds conference on Wednesday 4 September. Places are fully funded so it's completely free to attend! Perfect for librarians or colleagues who work in primary and secondary school libraries. More details below ⤵

In England in 2023, 1 in 5 (21%) children did not meet the expected standard in phonics by the end of year 1. For pupils like Abel, learning letter sounds can be challenging and affect their confidence with reading. When Abel’s teacher heard about Footy Phonics, he thought a different environment and way of approaching letter sounds and reading skills might help to support Abel. Delivered by The Albion Foundation as part of The Premier League Primary Stars programme and developed in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, Footy Phonics is an active literacy intervention to support the reinforcement of phonics skills and knowledge. The free resources offers simple, football-related activities to encourage five-to-seven-year-olds to explore the letters and the sounds they have learned about in class. Through active movement and football-themed activities and resources, Footy Phonics has engaged and inspired Abel and his classmates to become enthusiastic about phonics learning. Staff from both The Albion Foundation and Abel’s school have watched his confidence grow and his skills improve.  “You can actually see the difference that this has made to [Abel's] learning in school, as well as outside of school.” To find out more about Footy Phonics, visit Premier League Primary Stars: https://lnkd.in/e52MkEyn  

When trends make it to LinkedIn we've just got to join in. 🤭

Last September, during a visit to an east London secondary school, Keir Starmer spoke about his determination for an incoming Labour government to prioritise oracy education and "put confident speaking at the heart of what we teach our children."    Our latest report, published today, provides a roadmap for policy reform that, if implemented with sufficient funding and consideration, will advance the now Prime Minister's ambition. At the National Literacy Trust, we believe that every child, regardless of their background, deserves to find, develop and express their authentic voice. Oracy — the ability to articulate thoughts, listen actively, and engage in meaningful dialogue — is fundamental to achieving this.  Our report highlights the vital role of oracy in building the literacy skills children need to thrive in the modern world. Yet, in England, spoken language is scarcely referenced in the national curriculum, and Ofsted's recent findings confirm that oracy is undervalued, particularly in the early years, where we know it to be foundational to children’s future success in school, work and life.  72% of employers are concerned about young people's communication and presentation skills when entering employment. This skills gap risks entrenching social immobility as poor oracy skills are disproportionately concentrated among young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds, making it even more difficult for them to secure sustained employment.   To address this, we’ve put forward 10 bold policy proposals aimed at embedding oracy throughout all phases of a child’s life and education, from birth to 18. These include: - Introducing a unique children’s number at birth to improve coordination between services that support speech, language, and communication development.  - Ensuring an integrated speech, language, and communication pathway is available to all children from birth to 18 by 2030.  - Increasing the early years pupil premium to match primary school rates, funding crucial interventions.  - Embedding speech, language, and communication development across all subjects in a reformed national curriculum. We believe these measures are essential to unlocking every child's potential. Oracy isn't about speaking well or with a particular accent - it’s about authentic self-expression, listening with understanding and empathy, advocating for civic rights, and the ability to connect and collaborate with others. Let's make oracy education a priority!    Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/eev66RAP 

Reading is a foundational tool to develop empathy and support education around racism. Here's what the data from our Annual Literacy Survey shows us: ✅ 1 in 3 children and young people told us that reading helps them understand the views of other people. ✅1 in 3 said that reading helps them learn about other people and cultures. ✅ 1 in 3 said that something that they have read has changed how they think about other people. The library plays an essential role in self-discovery, and exploration of our global community. We want librarians to feel empowered to champion unheard voices, and provide a safe space for young people to explore cultures, identities and intersectionality, so that they feel included and celebrated in the books and literature they explore. Join us at our Inclusive Libraries conference, in collaboration with Lit in Colour (Penguin Random House UK) and the The British Library. Places are fully funded - so be quick! 📆 Wednesday 4 September - Leeds 📆 Friday 6 September - London Find out more: https://lnkd.in/enQSkZkX

Since 2018, we have seen first-hand that access to creative writing in custody, where enrichment opportunities are so desperately needed, can have an incredible impact on the lives of participants. New Chapters offers young people who are serving custodial sentences a space in which they can exercise creative freedom, find their voice, develop their literacy and communication skills and, most importantly, feel heard. The programme has just received funding from the Youth Endowment Fund for delivery in three Young Offenders Institutions and one secure school as part of ground breaking trial to evaluate the impact of sports, outdoor activities, and the arts on violence and crime prevention. Young people in custody are likely to have had a negative impact in education and New Chapters gives them an opportunity to tell their stories in an accessible and safe space. Literacy is for everyone - no limits, no lost causes, no last chances. Find out more about the programme: https://lnkd.in/eSuBzE2p

We have been appalled and deeply saddened by the riots in towns and cities during the last week, including places where the National Literacy Trust has established Literacy Hubs. Violence and hate speech should be unimaginable in our society and we are deeply committed to the local communities where we work, and to the safety of our staff and volunteers. It is shocking to see damage to buildings like libraries that are central to community life.   At the National Literacy Trust, we stand with communities and for a society built on respect and inclusion. We empower people with literacy skills so everyone has a voice and the ability to listen with empathy, and we are passionate about giving people critical literacy skills to navigate a world full of false information. Our work in communities over the summer won’t stop. We will strengthen our commitment to celebrate diversity and inspire families to tell their stories, and we will play our part in supporting communities to rebuild and heal.   Our mission is needed more now than ever. We stand side by side with all communities where we work.

Our research shows that 2 in 5 children and young people say they find it difficult to find books with characters like them. The library plays an essential role in self-discovery, exploration of our global community, and building empathy. Join us at our Inclusive Libraries conference for inspirational ideas and practical tips for deepening conversations around race culture and ethnicity in your library setting. Held first in Leeds on Wednesday 4 September, then in London on Friday 6 September, and featuring a superb line up of speakers including workshops from our collaborators at Lit in Colour (Penguin Random House UK) and The British Library. Places for librarians are fully funded with thanks to Arts Council England. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/enQSkZkX