The government should broaden the variety of reading formats - including audio - in its upcoming curriculum and assessment review to help stem the “reading for pleasure crisis”, a charity has said.
The number of young people who say they enjoy listening to audio, such as audiobooks and podcasts, in their free time has risen in the past year, according to research by the National Literacy Trust.
More than two in five children and young people aged 8-18 (42.3 per cent) said they enjoyed listening to audio in their free time in 2024, compared with 39.4 per cent in 2023.
It comes after the charity warned in November that children’s reading is at “crisis” point as the number of young people who said they enjoyed reading in their free time plummeted to 34.6 per cent.
Encouraging a love of reading
Sarah Hannafin, head of policy at school leaders’ union the NAHT, said more must be done to develop the curriculum and help children to gain the literacy skills they need.
“In English this must include developing a love of reading and harnessing children and young people’s enjoyment of listening is one way that can, and should, be encouraged,” she added.
This is the “first time” more children and young people said they enjoyed listening to audio than reading since the charity began asking them about their engagement with listening in 2020, a report said.
Overall, some 76,131 children and young people aged 5-18 from across the UK were surveyed by the charity between January and March 2024.
More on literacy:
The latest report from the NLT - based on the 37,893 children and young people aged 8-18 who took part in the survey and who told the charity they listened to audio in their free time - found that slightly more boys than girls enjoyed listening to audio in their free time in 2024 (43.4 per cent vs 40.4 per cent).
However, when it came to taking pleasure in reading, the gender gap was much larger, with only 28.2 per cent of boys reporting that they enjoy reading in their free time, compared with 40.5 per cent of girls.
Listening to audiobooks and podcasts could provide a gateway into reading enjoyment for many children and young people, the charity has suggested.
The potential of audiobooks
Julie McCulloch, director of strategy and policy at the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “There is certainly potential in using audio formats to encourage a love of reading alongside all the things that schools are doing to teach children to read and write, and access great books.
“Audiobooks and podcasts may be particularly helpful with reluctant readers, and we welcome the resources provided by the National Literacy Trust.”
Nearly two in five children and young people (37.5 per cent) agreed that listening to an audiobook had got them interested in reading books in 2024, according to the survey.
‘Myriad of benefits’
The research also found that when children and young people listen to audiobooks and podcasts in their free time, their learning, creativity and wellbeing can benefit.
NLT chief executive Jonathan Douglas said: “In recent years, we’ve seen a steady rise in children’s enjoyment of listening to audio and uncovered the myriad of benefits it can bring - from sparking a love of reading and supporting literacy development to deepening learning and boosting wellbeing.
“By working together to leverage children and young people’s enthusiasm for audio, we can play an important role in growing a generation of readers and turning the page on the nation’s reading-for-pleasure crisis,” he added.
A Department for Education spokesperson said excellent foundations in reading, writing and maths are a key part of its plan to drive high standards in education.
“Teachers are already encouraged to support their pupils to listen to, discuss and read a wide range of stories, poems, plays and books. This can include using audio books,” they added.
The DfE has put £23 million into English hubs for 2024-25, which it said supports reading for pleasure.
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