Richard Cowie: Let’s beat the summer reading slump together

As the end of the school year draws near, we teachers start packing away classroom displays, sending home final reports and preparing our pupils for a well-earned summer break. But alongside the excitement, there’s always a niggling concern in the back of my mind – one that many teachers share. It’s the worry about learning loss, particularly when it comes to reading.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Children absolutely deserve time to play, explore, rest and enjoy themselves during the summer holidays. But they also deserve to return to school in September feeling confident and capable. Sadly, without reading regularly over the break, many of them don’t.

What does learning loss look like?

Learning loss is what happens when children forget some of what they’ve worked so hard to learn during term time. It’s most noticeable in reading and maths and it’s especially stark at the beginning of the autumn term. As a teacher, it’s heartbreaking to watch a child who, in July, was confidently reading aloud or writing their own stories suddenly hesitate over familiar words or feel discouraged by tasks they managed just weeks before.

In reading, this loss often shows up as:

• Slower reading fluency
• Weaker comprehension
• Loss of vocabulary
• Reduced enthusiasm for books

It’s not just about slipping back in reading levels — it’s about losing momentum, confidence and the joy that comes with discovering new worlds through words.

Why disadvantaged pupils are hit the hardest

While all children are at risk of summer learning loss, it is our disadvantaged pupils who are most affected.

Many children from more affluent families continue to have access to books, library visits, story time and even summer learning programmes. In contrast, those from more disadvantaged backgrounds may not have easy access to reading materials, quiet places to read or adults who have the time or confidence to support them.

Over the six-week break, these small differences add up. The result? Children who are already behind their peers fall even further back. This widens the attainment gap – the difference in educational outcomes between advantaged and disadvantaged pupils – and it’s a gap that becomes harder and harder to close the older children get.

The truth is this: if a child isn’t reading over the summer, they are more likely to struggle in the autumn. If they’re already vulnerable or disadvantaged, the impact can be long-lasting.

Why reading matters so much

Reading isn’t just about decoding words. It’s a gateway to everything. Children who read widely develop:

• Stronger language and vocabulary
• Greater empathy and understanding of others
• Better concentration and imagination
• Stronger writing and spelling skills
• More curiosity and engagement with the world

Reading fuels the brain. When children read regularly, especially books they enjoy, they are actively building their knowledge, stretching their imagination and becoming better learners in every subject.

Beyond the educational benefits, reading is also a form of escapism. For many children – especially those facing difficult or uncertain home lives – books can be a safe haven. They offer a route into different worlds, new experiences and exciting adventures. They help children feel seen, heard and hopeful.

Reading sparks questions. It encourages children to wonder, to dream, to explore. It helps them see that learning doesn’t just belong in a classroom – it’s part of who they are, all the time, everywhere they go.

Why education doesn’t stop in July

It’s easy to fall into the idea that learning is something that happens between 9 and 3, Monday to Friday, September to July. But education is all the time.

In fact, the summer holidays can be a perfect time to read simply for the joy of it. There are no reading comprehension worksheets or formal assessments – just the pleasure of being lost in a text.

Encouraging summer reading isn’t about pushing children to keep “doing school” – it’s about giving them opportunities to grow and thrive on their own terms. It’s about protecting the progress they’ve already made and fuelling the confidence they’ll need in the months ahead.

How we can help beat the slump

I have spent years developing a website called Reading On Your Head, with the support of the fantastic educational charity SHINE. The website is designed to close the reading attainment gap for disadvantaged pupils. It allows pupils to read about subjects online that interest them and take low stakes quizzes to improve their reading comprehension ability. This summer, I’m launching a Beat The Summer Reading Slump campaign to give all pupils access to reading over the summer holidays.

This initiative recognises that without intervention, disadvantaged pupils are most likely to suffer the consequences of summer learning loss. It aims to equip schools, families and communities with the tools they need to keep children reading all summer long.

It’s not about complicated routines or spending hours every day. It’s about creating a culture of reading – where stories are shared, where children are encouraged to explore and where every book becomes an invitation to adventure.

Here’s what my campaign offers:

• Free access to curriculum and non-curriculum texts, all online.
• Children can read about what they want to, where and when they want to.
• Reading is gamified-making it exciting and engaging.
• Schools can access a detailed picture of each child’s reading performance in the new academic year.

Here’s what else we can do to help keep reading happen all summer long:

• Curating accessible and diverse book lists.
• Organising summer book swaps.
• Providing reading packs for families.
• Encouraging children to keep reading diaries.
• Celebrating summer reading achievements in September.

These may seem like small actions, but they can make a world of difference – especially for a child who doesn’t have books at home, or whose parents might not know how to support them.

A call to action: let’s make a difference

We have a choice. We can let the summer holidays widen the attainment gap, or we can act now to beat the summer reading slump – especially for the pupils who need our help the most.

So here’s my message to fellow teachers, parents, carers, librarians and anyone who cares about children’s futures:

Let’s not leave reading behind in July. Let’s make reading part of the summer fun – whether it’s on the sofa, in the park or before bed with a torch under the duvet.

Let’s be champions of stories and sparkers of curiosity.

Let’s give every child – no matter their background – the chance to return to school in September with their head full of words, their mind full of wonder and their heart full of confidence.

Together, we can beat the summer reading slump. Together, we can help all children – especially the most disadvantaged – to dream big, read widely and succeed.