In 2024, one in four children in England left primary school without meeting the expected reading standard. In Manchester, that number is even more concerning – just 68% of pupils reached the required level in their Year 6 SATs. The consequences of this can be lifelong.
The link between low literacy rates and high levels of poverty is clear. At Schoolreaders, we currently partner with 128 primary schools across Greater Manchester. Three-quarters of those schools have over 20% of pupils eligible for free school meals (FSM), a marker of disadvantage that can persist beyond childhood.
Across the UK, children growing up in poverty face numerous barriers to learning. Evidence consistently highlights that development gaps, particularly in reading, often persist into adulthood, reinforcing cycles of low educational attainment, limited job prospects, and poor health outcomes. The Meteor has previously reported that in Greater Manchester, an estimated 30.4% of children live in poverty.
This context matters – schools in these communities regularly have to respond to hunger, poor attendance and the wider effects of deprivation every day. These barriers have a direct impact on literacy.
In disadvantaged areas, children are far less likely to reach the expected literacy standards, and many leave primary school without the reading skills they need to succeed in their secondary education and beyond. Children experiencing persistent disadvantage leave school, on average, 22 months behind their peers – a stark indicator of the long-term effects of inequality.
In the North of England, only 4 in 10 of the most disadvantaged pupils reach expected attainment levels by the end of their secondary school education, highlighting the need for targeted support and intervention.
With the extension of FSM to all children in households on Universal Credit from September 2026, the need, and the opportunity, for targeted literacy support has never been clearer.
Poor literacy doesn’t just affect school performance – it’s a lifelong issue. Nationally, 1 in 6 adults are functionally illiterate, and over half of prisoners read at or below the level expected of an 11-year-old. That’s why reading is so important, and why Schoolreaders exists.
Our volunteers provide one-to-one reading support for primary school children, targeting disadvantaged schools in which the children likely need our support the most.
Our aim is simple: to ensure every child leaves primary school able to read well – setting them up for success, whatever their background.
Schoolreaders targets schools in these areas because we know that’s where our volunteers can make the biggest impact. In 2023–24, 54% of all new volunteer placements were made in schools that meet our disadvantage criteria – those in the top 20% most disadvantaged areas nationally, or with at least 25% of pupils eligible for free school meals.
Nearly half of the children we support are in receipt of FSM which is almost double the national average.
This targeted model has a proven impact. It’s not just about placing volunteers where they’re needed, but about building strong, sustainable relationships within local communities.
In Greater Manchester, we’ve built a network of trusted partnerships with Community Service Volunteers (CVS) organisations, U3A groups, local libraries and publications. These connections help us find compassionate, committed volunteers – people who are rooted in their communities and ready to make a difference.
The stories we hear are heartwarming. Take Larry, who encouraged a boy to pursue music after reading about Mozart, or Sue, whose young reader spotted a character “with grey hair and lines” and thought it looked just like her. These small moments spent with a trusted reading volunteer make a big difference to children’s lives, and help them to not only succeed, but to also find the joy in reading, which is so vital.
Bridging the literacy gap is one of the most effective ways to improve life chances for disadvantaged children, to reduce inequalities, and support local economic regeneration.
A child who leaves school unable to read fluently is more likely to face poor health outcomes, unemployment, and social exclusion. But with the right intervention, just one hour a week from a dedicated reading volunteer, we can rewrite that story.
The upcoming extension of FSM eligibility signals national recognition of rising poverty levels. As demand for our programme grows, we’re broadening our recruitment strategies to meet it, while maintaining our commitment to placing volunteers where the need is greatest.
The literacy gap in Greater Manchester is real, but so is the solution. Schoolreaders is already working in 128 primary schools across the region, but we have schools requesting over 200 more volunteers to ensure their children have the support they need to learn to read well, and this number will grow as more schools join.
If you can spare an hour a week during term time, you could help to change a child’s life-chances.
To find out more or apply to volunteer, visit www.schoolreaders.org or email admin@schoolreaders.org.
By Schoolreaders
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