The National Literacy Trust’s 2025 annual survey reveals a concerning trend: one in three children and young people do not enjoy reading, with only 35% of eight to 18-year-olds saying they read for pleasure. This is the lowest figure since the survey began in 2005, signaling a crisis in children’s enjoyment of reading. Literacy experts attribute this decline to factors such as reduced funding for libraries, the closure of local libraries, and a narrow, school-focused reading curriculum that prioritizes struggling readers. The overemphasis on early systematic phonics instruction, including the phonics screening check, is also seen as contributing to the problem by making reading feel like a test rather than an enjoyable activity.
