In the UK we’re lucky to have a number of different literacy initiatives to encourage children to read.

The Reading Agency, for example, have their regular Summer and Winter Reading Challenges that encourage children to read books they’ve borrowed from the library.

There are numerous writing challenges –  from writing book reviews through to short stories. Indeed, we’ve run a number of Young Authors’ Competitions, which have resulted in amazing stories and poems being published on Fonetti, and inspired other children to believe in their creative writing abilities too.

Competitions are a great way to get some people to take action. Some like the idea of winning, while others like the idea of improving their performance.(1)

The Fonetti interactive reading format is engaging for both enthusiastic and reluctant readers alike, so, by combining it with the compelling aspect of a competition, we believe more young readers will be inspired to read, to read more, and will progress, wherever they are on their reading journey.

The India Reading Challenge brings the benefits of English language reading practice (alongside public recognition and prizes) to children across India, and the Summer UK Read Aloud Challenge does much the same for children in the UK.

(1) Franken B, Brown D, 1995, Why do people like competition? The motivation for winning, putting forth effort, improving one’s performance, performing well, being instrumental, and expressing forceful/aggressive behavior, Personality and Individual Differences, Volume 19, Issue 2, August 1995, Pages 175-184
https://doi.org/10.1016/0191-8869(95)00035-5

As children across the UK start their summer holidays, it is important for parents and carers to be aware that reading and learning regression can occur while pupils are out of school.

In simple terms, reading regression is when a student loses reading accuracy, fluency or comprehension skills due to not reading regularly during the school break. After so much disruption over previous years, it’s important that we all try to minimise the regressive impact of time away from school, so that as pupils return to school in September/October, they’re able to make progress.

Encouraging reading and literacy activities over the summer can help to prevent reading regression. This includes reading for fun or reading aloud with family members, as well as engaging in online reading resources such as books, articles and audiobooks. There are also games and puzzles that pupils can take part in to help with reading skills.

To do our part, we’ve launched the Summer UK Read Aloud Challenge, to encourage children to read aloud on their tablets, to  maintain the momentum of the previous term, and keep up their practice. There will be rewards for top readers to keep them motivated over the 5-6 weeks.

It’s just one of a number of preventative measures that teachers, parents and carers can put in place, to help their students succeed in reading over the summer holidays, which will then support them into the new school year.

For more information on reading regression prevention, teachers can visit the National Literacy Trust‘s website for advice and reading resources.