Reading for Pleasure (The Open University)

Join us for a free online seminar exploring why we're reading less by choice and how to bring back the love for books!

🔗 Register now and be part of the conversation: https://ow.ly/q8a050YgzjF

Free resources to support Reading for Pleasure

Looking to strengthen RfP in your school? Our free, research-informed surveys help you explore pupils’ attitudes and support staff reflection — a great starting point for next steps.

Download here:
https://ow.ly/ESzI50YgvMz

We’re looking forward to welcoming colleagues from across the sector for a research-led day, exploring practical, evidence-informed strategies to re-engage teen readers and revitalise reading cultures.

Find out more and book online: https://ow.ly/XW9J50YgyCT

Professor Teresa Cremin recently spoke to Twinkl about why Reading for Pleasure needs to be planned — not presumed — as we look ahead to 2026.

Read the full article 👇

https://www.twinkl.co.uk/news/from-presumed-to-planned-how-we-can-transform-reading-for-pleasure-in-2026

Reading for pleasure needs a ‘higher profile’ at school, MPs told Education experts giving evidence to an MPs’ inquiry into the decline in children reading for pleasure make four recommendations to address the problem

A recent TES article reports on the evidence presented by Professor Teresa Cremin CBE and Dr Helen Hendry to the House of Commons Education Committee on the decline in children’s Reading for Pleasure.

Read the full TES coverage:
https://ow.ly/A7GE50YgzH8

✨ Our February Reading for Pleasure newsletter is here!

Find out about our free upcoming briefings, events, research highlights and resources to inspire reading 💡📚

See what’s inside: https://preview.mailerlite.com/z5i6h0l0o6

Our team is delighted to welcome schools from Jersey as they begin their OU Reading Schools Programme journey with us. Primary & secondary colleagues will be joining our online launch to begin exploring how Reading for Pleasure can grow strategically across communities.

It’s a packed programme tonight for our OU Secondary Reading for Pleasure community networking event. We’re looking forward to a rich evening of connection and reflection as we explore what’s shaping RfP in secondary schools today. Hope to see you there!

The OU team is launching Phase 4 of the What on Earth! magazine research today with 360 Year 5 pupils & teachers across Hull. We will explore how reading and writing connect using this high-quality magazine - a new chapter to explore how reading and writing grow together.

Have you heard our latest podcasts in collaboration with World Book Day and English Hubs? Do have a listen - 3 in the series with linked resources. Perfect for your next staff discussion! https://ow.ly/8vBi50XKYps

OU RfP lead Teresa Cremin CBE is setting out the vision for the National Year of Reading today. Let’s go all in… together. #NYR2026 Event details here https://literacytrust.org.uk/events/launch-of-the-national-year-of-reading-inspiring-life-long-readers/

Here's some feedback from our 2025-26 KS3 Reading Schools Programme participants, reflecting on our online RfP conference sharing research, practice and realistic ways to grow reading cultures.

📣 Check your inboxes - our January newsletter is here! 📚
Author in the Spotlight, Top Texts, brilliant ideas for the classroom and RfP research! 💙
Not subscribed yet? Sign up here 👉 https://ourfp.org/newsletter-signup/
#RfP #ReadingForPleasure #OURfP #Teaching

Have you heard our latest podcasts in collaboration with World Book Day and English Hubs? Do have a listen - 3 in the series with linked resources. Perfect for your next staff discussion! https://ow.ly/rtrn50XKYpp

OU RfP team member Debbie Thomas is working with staff in Croydon today to enhance evidence-informed knowledge and practice as part of their #OUReadingSchools development journey this year. Find out more at an upcoming briefing https://ourfp.org/schools-teachers/reading-schools-programme-2025-26/

Congratulations Teresa Cremin on being awarded a #CBE in the #NewYearHonours! Across four decades, you've brought researchers, teachers & communities together around a shared belief in the power of reading, writing & creativity. #InspiringWomen #Connection #RfP The Open University

Looking for fresh inspiration or last-minute gift ideas? 🌟📚
Explore our Top Texts selections and Author in the Spotlight features — packed with ideas to widen your repertoire and spark new reader connections 👉 https://ourfp.org/texts-authors/
#RfP #TopTexts #AuthorSpotlight #HolidayReads

⭐However you celebrate this holiday season, we wish you much joy, laughter and plenty of time to cosy up with a good book or two! Happy holidays from the OU RfP team - Teresa, Helen, Sam, Bennie, Debbie, Rachel and Kelly ⭐

Independent reading time isn’t a break from learning — it’s where reading identities grow. 🌱📖
Explore ways to make choice-led reading time purposeful, joyful and truly reader-owned 👉 https://ourfp.org/finding/independent-reading/
#RfP #IndependentReadingTime #ChoiceLed #ChildLed

Big impact, small talk! 💬
Discover simple ways to build everyday book chat and peer recommendations 👉https://ourfp.org/finding/rfpp/booktalk-and-recommendations/
#RfP #BookTalk #Blether #Recommendations Teresa Cremin

Reading aloud connects hearts and minds. 💛📖
It models joy, builds empathy and invites every listener into the story world. Explore tips and examples of powerful read-aloud practice 👉 https://ourfp.org/finding/reading-aloud/
#RfP #ReadingAloud Ashley Kelly Debbie Thomas

Make reading social! 💬📖
Find inspiration for creating spaces where readers connect, share and grow 👉 https://ourfp.org/finding/rfpp/social-reading-environments/
#RfP #SocialReadingEnvironments Teresa Cremin

Every reader has a story — the key is finding out what it is. 💭📚
Explore practical ways to get to know your pupils as readers and build trust, choice and connection 👉 https://ourfp.org/finding/teachers-knowledge-of-childrens-reading-practices/
#ReadingIdentity Teresa Cremin Debbie Thomas

Keep your reading radar switched on! 📚 Explore resources to grow your knowledge of children’s and YA literature — and inspire others to do the same 👉 https://ourfp.org/finding/teachers-knowledge-of-childrens-literature-and-other-texts/
#ReadingForPleasure Teresa Cremin Ashley Kelly

It’s that time again — the season of spine-tingling stories!
From The Last Firefox to Goth Girl, Crater Lake and Funnybones, spooky reads are the perfect way to spark curiosity (and a few chills!) this Halloween.
What’s haunting your bookshelf? #SpookyReads #ReadingForPleasure

Wonderful @openuni-rfp.bsky.social conference. Well-deserved award to @nj13.bsky.social for her incredible work. Delighted to meet @amdassu.bsky.social and @robbiddulph.bsky.social who were both incredibly inspiring as were the workshops.

🍾 Fantastic to toast this exciting new release at today's RfP conference. So much to think about on my drive home.

❤️📖 At thoroughly superb day!

@teresacremin.bsky.social @debbiethomas.bsky.social @kashleyenglish.bsky.social @uklitassociation.bsky.social @openuni-rfp.bsky.social

#RfP

✨️ Wonderful to see the Opening Doors books at the @openuni-rfp.bsky.social and @uklitassociation.bsky.social Reading for Pleasure Conference in Milton Keynes today.

@openingdoors.bsky.social @thinktalkleah.bsky.social @juliesargent.bsky.social @crownhousepub.bsky.social

#ReadingForPleasure

Congratulations to the winners & all those highly commended in The HarperCollins Reading for Pleasure Awards 2025. Find out who has been crowned & how they have built a reading community in their school or library. 👏 #EduSky @openuni-rfp.bsky.social

booksforkeeps.co.uk/58089-2/

@openuni-rfp.bsky.social please could you share this? You will know some people with great ideas that we would love to hear from.