Reading Families

What is Reading Families?

Reading Families is a fun reading programme for parents, building skills, confidence and connections through shared reading with younger family members over 6 reading activities. Reading Families is an annual programme that can be delivered throughout the year in prisons, colleges, schools, libraries and across many other learning community settings.

The impact

• Evidence of increased engagement in reading for children and parents
• Evidence of closer family bonds and improved meaningful connections between parents and children

“The Reading Challenge is a good thing … to do as it builds the bond with your children a lot better and be able to speak to them and have fun with them.“

– Prison participant

How is the programme delivered?

Reading Families is delivered by a staff using print pack materials. Coordinators advertise the programme using posters and invite adult participants within their learning community to sign their families up. Participating families will be given a Family Reading Log to record and give their thoughts on their reading activities and time spent together over the course of 4-6 sessions. When the family has completed participating in Reading Families, they will be awarded a certificate!

For prisons: shared reading sessions can be easily adapted to regime – through Family Days, visiting times, Purple Visits and other opportunities where children are permitted access to their children. Sessions also provide purposeful activity for prison visits as outlined in the MOJ Farmer Review; helping to improve family relationships, promote positive behaviour change and reduce reoffending.

“Young dads really liked it. Reading the children’s books without any judgement increased their confidence in their own reading. Some had problems with reading and began reading the books themselves, not just with their children.“

– Prison library supervisor

What will coordinators get?

• Reading Families participant print packs, available in a range of quantity and additional resource options. Materials include a Family Reading Log, certificate, and bookmark, with posters and flyers to advertise the programme.
• Access to a forthcoming password-protected Reading Families resource bank including  training support, discussion prompts and activity packs.
• Evaluation tools and resources, aligned with a national evaluation framework and access to evaluation data and reports.

Get involved

Explore how you can get involved, and find further information on ordering print packs, resources and costs.

Sign up to more than one programme (Reading Ahead, Reading Well, Quick Reads or Reading Families) for our bundle discount:

• 10% discount on the purchase of materials for two programmes
• 15% discount on the purchase of materials for three programmes
• 20% discount for the purchase of materials on four or more programmes