The National Year of Reading 2026

The National Year of Reading 2026 is special, created to help children and adults in the UK enjoy reading more. Everyone is encouraged to explore all kinds of stories, books, comics, magazines, websites, and even audiobooks. with the theme "Go All In."

Throughout the year, the children of St. Mary's will enjoy reading as a tool for growing, learning, and slowing down.

We will share some of our experiences with you, such as library trips, reading cafes, and more.

Why is it happening now?

A 2025 report from the National Literacy Trust found that only 1 in 3 people aged 8-18 enjoyed reading in their free time, and 1 in 4 said they didn't enjoy reading at all.

Reading is not just about enjoying stories; it can also:

* Improve your well-being

* Improve your vocabulary and how you talk with others

* Help how you think and orgainse your ideas

* Help you relax

* Improve your imagination

Storytelling Week

As part of Storytelling Week, our Year 6 children shared their favourite childhood stories with the Reception classes, creating some truly special moments. The older pupils loved revisiting the books they once enjoyed, while the Reception children listened with wide eyes and big smiles. It was wonderful to see such kindness, confidence, and enthusiasm as stories were brought to life. Everyone had a lot of fun, and the experience reminded us just how powerful and joyful sharing stories can be.

Planning a Flashback

In English, we are writing a flashback for Felix, the main character in the book Once. We have taken the opportunity to read some examples and gathered ideas to help us plan our own flashback. Using our imagination and creativity, we are thinking about his life before the orphanage and what memories he might have. This helps us explore his feelings and experiences, and lets us bring the story to life in our own words.  We enjoyed reading the examples and opening up our imagination.

Superstar Readers

Zion class have now finished their mini reading comprehension book from CGP SATs Buster. They have really enjoyed working with the short texts, reading them carefully, and discussing them as a class. Analysing the stories and information together has helped them to understand the texts better and has improved their confidence in answering different types of questions.

Reading Cafe

Today, the children in Zion class visited the Reception class for their Reading Café. They shared stories and read together with the Reception children, and they absolutely loved the experience. It was a lovely opportunity to build confidence, friendships, and a love for reading.

Children from the Cana class are attending Fleetwood Library to support their learning and encourage a love of reading. The library offers access to a diverse range of books, educational resources, and a quiet study space that complements the classroom learning experience. These visits also help children develop important research and information skills, learn how to use community resources responsibly, and become more confident and independent learners. By attending the local library, our children will strengthen their connection to the community while enriching their educational experience.

Zion Class Novel

In Zion class, we are reading Once by Morris Gleitzman, which links closely to our History topic on World War II. The story helps us understand what life was like for Jewish children during the Holocaust and shows the fear, bravery, and hope people experienced at that time. By following Felix’s journey, we can better imagine the real struggles families faced and connect the events in the book to what we are learning about WWII in history.

School of Sanctuary Reading

We have a wonderful selection of books linked to our School of Sanctuary that we enjoy reading in the reading den. These books help us learn about kindness, respect, and understanding others while also being fun and interesting to read. The reading den is a calm and welcoming space where we can relax and explore new stories together.