What is the National Year of Reading 2026?
The National Year of Reading 2026 is a UK-wide campaign, led by the Department for Education and the National Literacy Trust, aimed at transforming the reading culture of the country. It launches in January 2026 with the following goals:
- Encouraging more children, young people and adults to read for pleasure.
- Engaging broader audiences such as parents, schools, libraries, businesses and community groups to promote the benefits of reading.
- Modernising what reading means – not only books in print, but digital reading, shared reading, reading across media and making reading relevant.
It is part of the Government’s wider “Plan for Change,” recognising that reading doesn’t just offer academic benefits, it is central to wellbeing, opportunity and social connection.
Why School Libraries Are Essential
School libraries are at the heart of this effort. For many children, a well-resourced school library, with a range of books and reading spaces is their only or most consistent access to new reading material. A dedicated library space supports literacy, vocabulary, comprehension and crucially, the pleasure in reading! Research shows that younger children reading for pleasure tend to do better academically across a spectrum of subject areas and have higher levels of wellbeing.
A survey carried out in 2025 revealed only one in three young people aged 8-18 say they enjoy reading in their free time. The School Library Association also uncovered only one in every seven primary schools have a dedicated library or reading space.
Crofton School Library – view our Case Study here
What Funding & Support Is (or Will Be) Available for School Libraries
Several funding streams and initiatives are already underway, with a £10m pot committed to the National Year of Reading 2026, and others more broadly to school literacy or library provision. Some are competitive grants, whilst others are government commitments.
| Scheme | Provision | Who Can Apply | Key Details |
| National Year of Reading Government guarantee of a library in every primary school | Over £10 million has been committed to ensure that by the end of this Parliament, all primary schools have a library. | Primary schools in England that currently lack a dedicated library or reading space. | Details yet to be released. |
| Foyle Foundation & Libraries for Primaries Campaign | Grants to create or enhance reading spaces or dedicated libraries in primary schools. | Primary schools in the UK, especially those without good library provision already. Disadvantaged areas get priority. | “Libraries for Primaries” work with hundreds of schools across the UK to give them the training, resources, books and furniture that they need to develop the reading for pleasure culture in their school. Expressions of interest are open via their website. |
| School Library Improvement Fund (Scotland) | Grants for projects in school libraries focused on diversity, anti-racism, equality, etc. | School libraries in Scotland. | In recent years, awards in the tens of thousands per project. Schools should visit the SLIC website for new rounds. |
| Reading Schools Fund (Scotland) | Up to £500 grants to fund books or reading materials, furnishings for reading spaces. | State funded schools & grant-aided specialist provisions in Scotland working towards Reading School accreditation. | Applications for this particular fund open 1st September to 31st October 2025. Visit their website for more information. |
Please note applications for microgrants via Libraries Connected are now closed.
Toner Avenue School Library – view our Case Study here
What Should Schools Do Now?
To maximise chances of accessing funding, schools should:
- Audit their current library / reading space provision (space, stock, staffing) to identify gaps.
- Liaise with local library authorities / library services: sometimes school libraries are part of a wider public library service.
- Monitor announcements from Department for Education, Arts Council England, National Literacy Trust and other major charitable funders such as Foyle.
- Be ready with applications as many grants are competitive. Having up-to-date financials, reading plans, lists of priorities (books, furniture, staff training etc) will help.
- Use the momentum of the National Year of Reading 2026 – including this as part of your narrative strengthens grant applications and shows alignment with national priorities.
Barrington School Library – view our Case Study here
The National Year of Reading 2026 presents a major opportunity for schools to secure support and funding to improve or create school libraries and reading spaces. With a pipeline of funding already committed from the Government targeted at ensuring every primary school has access to a dedicated library space, addressing concerns over falling reading rates and promoting reading for pleasure, schools are well placed to benefit if they prepare in advance for grant applications and start planning library projects early.
The Morleys Advantage
We believe a library is at the heart of every school
We offer a complete FF&E solution to education clients, where libraries or learning resource centres are one of our key specialist areas of expertise.
We understand library refurbishments are an important capital investment for schools, so using our access to the widest range of furniture designed for education environments, and our commitment to quality, best value and durability, we deliver a return on your investment and an inspiring space that students will benefit from for years
to come.
Contact Us
If you have an education project in the pipeline and would like to know more about the benefits of working with Morleys and the service we offer as FF&E design consultants, please get in touch, we would love to hear from you.
As a school we are looking into having our library moved into a central space. If possible we would like to arrange a design visit.
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