Our latest news, tips, and advice
Read what's happening with Reading Chest, along with advice on how to help your child on their reading journey.
Settling into a New School Year
September 15, 2023
Lots of our members have been in touch to discuss how best to navigate this transitional period. Some schools seem to be sending books home straight away, whilst others are not, and the confusion surrounding book bands and phonics is...
World Book Day – Reading for Pleasure!
March 1, 2023
We want to spread the word about why World Book Day is SO important! Most of us are familiar with the costume rigmarole every year - but at the very heart of this day is reading for pleasure. Reading schemes...
What A Fantastic Idea!
January 27, 2023
As part of National Storytelling Week, residents of Cavell Court Care Home in Norwich have created videos retelling classic children's stories like Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and The Three Little Pigs. These stories are...
Schools Not Sending Physical Books Home?
October 21, 2022
The first school half term has flown by! Routines are established, teachers and children are getting familiar with each other, and focused learning is taking place. An exciting milestone for many new school starters is taking home their first reading...
Get “Reading Fit”!
August 10, 2022
It's not too late to help your children get "reading fit" this summer and start the new school year off strong in September. Research shows that children who don’t read over the summer can lose significant knowledge and start the...
Summer Holidays Here We Come…
July 19, 2022
Having now seen the true impact of covid on our children's learning, encouraging a love of reading has never been more important, and the summer holidays are the perfect time! Children and teachers work so hard throughout the school year,...
Children’s Reading Hit Hard After Pandemic
May 4, 2022
We are starting to see the real impact of the pandemic on children's learning. Research by Juniper Education reports that children who are currently in Year 3 (Year 1 in 2019) have suffered the biggest drops in attainment during the...
Phonics & More!
April 6, 2022
Schools have increasingly been encouraged by the Government to teach children to read using synthetic phonics. Learning to read using phonics isn’t a new concept, but in the past, it was often used in combination with other teaching methods. How...
Women’s History Month
March 16, 2022
Here at Reading Chest, this celebration is close to our hearts. We house some amazing reading scheme books about the women of the past, written by the women of today, to inspire the next generation of young readers. Shining a...
World Book Day Golden Tickets!
March 1, 2022
To celebrate World Book Day 2022 - we are sending out 10 golden tickets with our members' book swaps this week. So - look out for one in your next envelope of books! If you are one of our lucky...
Reading Aloud!
February 3, 2022
National Read Aloud Day has fallen in the middle of National Storytelling Week, the perfect opportunity for us to emphasise the importance of parents and children reading together and why reading aloud should become part of everyday life. Storytelling and...