Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

National Year of Reading: Phonics

Monday 2 March 2026 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • National Year of Reading 2026 aims to encourage children to improve their reading and discover a love of books through events and resources.
  • The initiative includes activities in schools and libraries, targeting areas like Knowsley where phonics attainment is low.
  • Government plans to support initiatives through Best Start family hubs, providing parents with advice on supporting their children's learning at home.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Anneliese Midgley Lab Knowsley
Context

The questioner references the National Year of Reading 2026 and highlights a challenge in her constituency where one in four children fail their key stage 1 phonics standards.

Question

What steps she is taking through the National Year of Reading 2026 to improve phonics attainment at key stage 1.

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

The National Year of Reading is about encouraging children to discover the magic of reading. There will be exciting events and resources in schools and libraries across the country, including in Knowsley, to help children improve their reading and discover a love of books.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps or commitments to improve phonics attainment in Knowsley were not provided

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Q2 Anneliese Midgley Lab Knowsley
Education Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The questioner expresses her enthusiasm for reading and highlights a challenge in her constituency where one in four children fail their key stage 1 phonics standards.

Question

In Knowsley, one in four children fail their key stage 1 phonics standards. How will the National Year of Reading help kids in my constituency improve their reading and discover the same love of a good book that I have?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

There will be exciting events and resources in schools and libraries across the country, including in Knowsley, to help children improve their reading and discover a love of books.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps or commitments to improve phonics attainment in Knowsley were not provided

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Q3 Caroline Voaden Lib Dem South Devon
Children & Families
Context

The questioner highlights the correlation between daily reading to young children and better outcomes later in life.

Question

Reading daily to young children is shown to have a direct correlation with better outcomes, qualifications and social mobility later in life. However, many parents are not aware of this. Will the Government run a national advertising campaign to promote directly to new parents the need and the value of reading to their children every day?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

Through the National Year of Reading, we will be supporting exactly those kinds of initiatives, and through our Best Start family hubs we will ensure that parents get high-quality advice about the best ways to support their children's learning at home.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific details about a national advertising campaign were not provided

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Q4 Jack Rankin Con Windsor
Education
Context

The questioner notes that children are increasingly swiping books instead of turning pages and asks about the impact of screens on phonics standards.

Question

When I visit primary and first schools, teachers tell me that more and more children starting school are swiping books, rather than knowing how to turn the page. If the Secretary of State is serious about raising phonics standards at key stage 1, will she act now to empower parents and get screens out of classrooms, and back a ban on social media for under-16s to create the right habits early?

Answer from Bridget Phillipson

We have launched a consultation on phones in schools. I am clear that phones have no place in our schools, and schools should enforce that policy and ensure that it is being followed.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitment to ban social media for under-16s was not given

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