By Sarah Pickstone, Beanstalk's Partnership Manager 

As you may know, Read On. Get On. is a national campaign to ensure that every child in the UK is able to read to the required level by the age of 11, by 2025. It’s a grand aim, but it’s one which is achievable – and it’s certainly one which is going to require a lot of work!

The upcoming year is set to be very busy for Read On. Get On. as we aim to raise awareness of how vital early years education is, and how it plays a pivotal role in the future life-chances of our children. The UK’s poorest children are starting school over a year behind their better off peers in language skills. This setback so early in their school-life means that they are more likely to finish primary school unable to read well, and their chance of leaving secondary school with 5 A*-C GCSEs already at risk.

That’s why good quality early-years care is so important. It should be affordable, but it must also give children all they need to develop their language and communication, to grow physically, socially and emotionally.

But right now, MPs don’t see people up in arms about so many children missing out. So our partner in the Read On. Get On. campaign, Save the Children, is asking that people meet their MP to show that there is urgency to improve things. Can you take part?

There are other ways to get involved with the Read On. Get On. campaign if you so wish:

If you’re a keen Tweeter, please keep an eye on @ReadOnGetOn and tweet as much as possible!

Sign the Read On. Get On. petition so there are lots of people calling for better early-years learning!

Read On. Get On. is always looking for events to support in communities. Maybe a second hand book sale? Maybe a talk in your local community centre about reading and its importance? 

If you would like any further information, please contact me.