When schools stop sending reading books home (and switch to eBooks instead)
The first school half term has flown by. Routines are starting to stick, teachers and children are getting to know each other, and proper learning is underway. One of the big milestones for many new starters is bringing home that very first reading book to share and practise.
But some of our Reading Chest families have told us something worrying: instead of sending home physical reading books, their child's school has switched to links for online eBooks only.
Why are schools moving to eBooks?
In most cases, this change isn't happening because eBooks are a better way for young children to learn to read. It's usually driven by budgets and time. It's cheaper for schools to subscribe to an eBook service than it is to keep buying, stamping, covering and replacing physical books that go home in book bags.
There are some practical positives for schools too: eBooks don't go missing under beds, don't come back covered in cornflakes, and teachers can quickly see what's been assigned or opened.
But there's a big question here: does this actually help children at the stage when reading is just beginning to click?
The downsides of eBooks for early readers
For children who are just starting out, the disadvantages of relying only on eBooks often outweigh the benefits. Reading at this age shouldn't just be about decoding words on a screen. It's about the whole experience.
Think about how exciting it is for a child to proudly pull a book out of their bag, show you the cover and say, "This is my reading book." There's something special about holding a real book, turning the pages, and snuggling up together to read it. Clicking a link and staring at a device just doesn't feel the same.
There are also practical issues at home. Not every family has:
- a suitable device for children to use independently,
- enough devices to share between siblings, or
- reliable internet access at story time.
And for many parents, home is the one place they'd really like to press pause on extra screen time.
Why real books still matter so much
Physical books do more than help children practise phonics. They make reading feel like a real-world, hands-on activity rather than another thing that happens on a screen.
With a real book, children can:
- take their time looking at the front cover and guessing what it might be about,
- flip back and forth between pages to find a favourite picture,
- see their progress as the "read" side of the book grows thicker, and
- build little routines around reading – like keeping books in a special spot or choosing one for the journey to school.
All of this helps reading feel enjoyable and important, not just another task to tick off.
Finding a balance that works for your family
eBooks absolutely have their place. They can be brilliant for quick access to extra books, for sharing the same title across different homes, or for children who enjoy reading on a screen. The challenge comes when they replace physical books altogether, especially in those early years.
If your child's school has moved to eBooks only, you might like to:
- chat to the teacher about how it's working for your child,
- ask whether there's any flexibility to borrow physical books as well, and
- top up with real books at home where you can, so your child still gets that page-turning experience.
How Reading Chest can support you
At Reading Chest, we exist to make sure children learning to read still have access to real, book-banded reading books at home. Our postal book rental service is designed to sit alongside whatever your child's school is doing – whether that's physical reading books, eBooks or a mixture of both.
We send carefully levelled books through the post, you share them at home, and then you pop them back in the pre-paid envelope for more. It means your child can still enjoy that excitement of choosing, opening and reading real books, even if school has gone fully digital.
However you choose to support your child's reading, the goal is the same: to keep it positive, relaxed and enjoyable, so they grow up seeing books – real or digital – as friends for life.