National figures show that children’s enjoyment of reading is at its lowest level in almost 20 years. At the same time, young people are increasingly accessing stories, information and entertainment through audiobooks, podcasts and digital platforms.

Research also highlights that children who experience difficulties with reading are at greater risk of developing mental health challenges later in life, including anxiety, depression and behavioural difficulties.

St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust (SJCMAT) recognises the vital role that reading plays in a young person’s education and personal development. Through its mission of transforming lives through a world-class Catholic education, the trust places reading at the heart of teaching and learning across its schools.

Andrew Truby, chief executive officer at SJCMAT, said: “Reading changes everything. It unlocks learning, builds confidence, strengthens wellbeing and creates opportunity. When a child learns to read, they gain access not only to the curriculum, but to a lifetime of possibilities. That is why our commitment is simple: every child will learn to read, and every child will choose to read frequently for pleasure.”

 
Across the trust, this guarantee is delivered through a coherent approach, from early reading through systematic synthetic phonics to independent, fluent reading. All primary schools teach Read Write Inc., while Fresh Start provides targeted support for older pupils requiring additional help. Daily one-to-one tutoring is provided where needed and tutoring can continue remotely through Microsoft Teams to ensure progress is maintained during absence.

Alongside learning to read, SJCMAT is equally committed to developing children’s language, vocabulary and confidence as communicators. 

Vicki Shutt, reading lead at SJCMAT, explains the trust’s new ‘Say a Poem’ initiative: “We want every child to become a confident reader, but also a child who loves words, stories and language. Through Say a Poem, pupils learn and perform carefully chosen poetry, building vocabulary, fluency, memory and confidence while experiencing the joy of sharing great language together. It has quickly become a cherished part of life across our family of schools.”