Leading reading: putting evidence into practice

Discover the principles underpinning the effective leadership of reading and how to put them into practice.

About the guide

Learning to read can be challenging, and the impacts of not being able to read are extensive. At school, unaddressed reading difficulties impede pupils’ ability to write, and reduce their access to the wider curriculum, including beneficial wider reading experiences. By effectively addressing reading development, schools can support most pupils to get better at reading.

So, how can teachers and school leaders ensure that all pupils experience high-quality teaching of reading?

This guide:

  • Explores what research reveals about the science of reading.
  • Shares 11 principles that define the underlying features of good practice to support leadership of reading.
  • Brings the principles to life in four case studies showing how to improve reading using the practices of sector leaders in their schools.
  • Offers insight about how leaders can promote the importance of literacy and create the enabling conditions for effective literacy leadership.

Download the guide