đź“° Adult Literacy News Summary
AWS Summit London - how monday.com hit $1m ARR in ten weeks, and what a children's literacy charity has in common with it
27-Apr-2026 - UK
Frankie Smith, Interim CEO of Bookmark Reading Charity, needed at least 300 more reading volunteers to meet the demand from UK schools – and recruiting them was never going to be quick. Every volunteer has to be vetted and trained, and that process exists for good reason. Amichay Even Chen, Product Lead at monday AI, had 250,000 customers asking for features that never made the roadmap because they were too complex to build. Both organizations have found a way forward with AWS.
Read moreReading shortcuts for children may be popular, but the research doesn't back them up
26-Apr-2026 - UK
Reading enjoyment is at its lowest level for two decades, according to the National Literacy Trust's annual survey. This matters because books expose children to a broader and richer vocabulary than everyday conversation, giving them access to words and language patterns they are less likely to hear. Researchers do not point to a single cause for the decline, but studies suggest a mix of competing activities, weaker reading motivation and limited access to books that match children's interests. We do have strong evidence about one crucial ingredient. Children need to learn how print represents speech sounds and practice decoding until word reading becomes accurate and fluent. That's why phonics—the teaching of letter-sound relationships to help children sound out written words—is embedded in early literacy instruction.
Read moreVoice notes are massive in some countries but not the UK - here's why
26-Apr-2026 - UK
In places like India, Mexico, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates, voice notes are almost matching the popularity of written texts as the preferred form of electronic communication. But curiously, the truth is that compared to many places, Britain never seems to have quite caught the voice note bug. Prof Kathryn Hardy, a professor of Sociology at Ashoka University in Sonipat, Haryana, told me it was "extremely plausible" that voice messaging was particularly popular in rural communities and areas where written literacy is lower. "We've seen so many technologies taken up in rural communities just instantaneously, because they do bypass literacy requirements," she said. "This seems like the most obvious use of voice notes, to get around the problem of not just literacy but fluency."
Read moreSchools Programme announced for Edinburgh International Book Festival 2026
26-Apr-2026 - UK
The Edinburgh International Book Festival is launching its Schools Programme as Scotland marks the National Year of Reading in 2026. The Festival, which runs from Monday 24 to Friday 28 August this year, will feature a week of author events, creative activity and classroom resources designed to support teachers, school librarians and home educators at the start of the academic year.
Read moreCharity receives record number of childrens books donations
25-Apr-2026 - UK
A charity has received more than 1,000 donated children’s books after a successful public campaign. The campaign was run by Oxford-based PR agency Fortitude Communications, which supported Bicester literacy charity Assisted Reading for Children (ARCh) in its search for good-quality softback books to use in primary schools. Books were donated by business owners, schools, and authors during National Storytelling Week
Read moreTeens Are Falling Out Of Love With Reading. Teachers Share What They Think's Behind It
25-Apr-2026 - UK
Just one in three kids aged eight to 18 years old say they enjoy reading in their free time. In a TikTok video, a teacher known as Ms C, admitted one of her students had revealed they’d never finished a book before. Discussing why older kids are reading less, she said there are “many reasons” like “increased pressure inside and outside of school, a desire to spend more time socialising, and, of course, the phones”. But an even more “obvious” reason, she said, is that “adults have lowered the bar for how much you should read as a teenager” to the point where “the bar cannot be found”.
Read moreThe Power of Reading: An inspirational reader story
24-Apr-2026 - UK
This story is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to learn, and that with the right support, lives can be transformed. David had a tough start in life with health problems keeping him out of school so much, he never learned to read properly. Fortunately, his father knew how much he wanted to improve and was determined to find him the help he needed. He turned to Read Easy when he realised its one-to-one coaching sessions would be perfect for his son
Read more7 things I wish people knew about dyslexia
24-Apr-2026 - UK
A new animated film has been developed to challenge negative attitudes and misconceptions about dyslexia, after research found that many children feel “hopeless” because of how the learning difference is often described. The charity Made By Dyslexia, which is behind the animation, surveyed 5,000 dyslexic adults and young people, along with their parents and teachers, including 2,000 participants from the UK.
Read moreWorthing football club supports children reading campaign
21-Apr-2026 - UK
A powerful new campaign is using the power of sport to champion childhood literacy. Worthing Football Club partnered with the BeSeenReading scheme to launch a two-day event promoting the importance of reading to young people and families. The initiative is led by Arundel-based charity Children Reading for Life and aims to make reading a "visible, accessible and aspirational" part of daily life.
Read moreFree monthly book parcels for families to boost literacy and wellbeing for children in crisis
21-Apr-2026 - UK
Hull-based charity Sailors’ Children’s Society has launched two national BookTrust programmes, Story Explorers and Letterbox Club, to support younger children on its scheme, helping to build literacy, confidence, and emotional wellbeing. The programmes will provide free monthly book parcels to families, bringing reading into the home in a fun, engaging, and accessible way.
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