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Reading Agency tools to support adult literacy

14 December 2011

A new skills survey, the first since 2003, shows that there are still far too many people whose poor basic skills put them at a huge disadvantage in modern society. Headline findings from the 2011 Skills for Life Survey, published on 1 Dec, include:

- 57% of the working age population are at Level 2 (equivalent to GCSE grades A*-C) or above in literacy. This is a rise from 44% in the previous survey in 2003.

- 15% (5.1 million people) are at Entry Level 3 (the level expected of an 11 year old) or below which represents no significant change since 2003.

- more people are at the lowest level of literacy than in 2003 - 1.7 million compared to 1.1 million

Research tells us that engagement in reading for pleasure can help to improve people's skills as well as increasing their motivation to read and learn more. In addition to the Six Book Challenge, we have now developed several tools to support adult literacy as follows:

Words for Life - a new resource pack to help practitioners introduce reading for pleasure to adults at the lowest level of literacy drawn from pilot work by library and learning partnerships in Essex, Warrington and at HMP Birmingham. A full evaluation report of the Words for Life project, funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, is also available.

Game On - a report on how digital games can be used to engage learners in reading for pleasure

Find a Read - our unique database where practitioners and readers can find more than 1000 recommended reads ranging from books written specially for readers with low literacy such as the Quick Reads as well as other print and online items selected according to criteria developed by The Reading Agency. Users can browse by category, format (including audio, large print, e-books, digital games) and reading level

Reading Groups for Everyone - our new campaign includes case studies, tips and guidance for emergent reader groups

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