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9/15/2026
Top tips for supporting reluctant or struggling readers
Reading is a vital life skill but it doesn’t come naturally to everyone. While some learners are confident with reading and enjoy reading for pleasure, many learners struggle to read or get excited about reading. We asked Sian Cook, Associate Principal at Wallbrook Primary Academy (part of Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust), for her top tips for supporting struggling and reluctant readers.
- Astro Readers from Reading Planet are used to engage reluctant readers, particularly those working within lower reading bands, by providing high-interest texts linked to children's interests and experiences. These age-appropriate and engaging books enable KS2 (upper primary) pupils to access reading at an appropriate level, helping to maintain high self-esteem, foster a positive attitude towards reading, and build confidence, fluency, and enjoyment as readers.
- Author visits play a key role in inspiring a love of reading by giving children the opportunity to meet real authors and take part in engaging workshops based on their books. Through discussions about characters, themes and wider series, pupils develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of reading. These experiences generate excitement around books, encourage children to explore new texts independently, and foster positive attitudes towards reading for pleasure.
- Our weekly Reading Wheel celebration promotes reading for pleasure and encourages regular reading at home. Children who read more than twice during the week are entered into a prize draw during our Praise Assembly. The excitement of the interactive spinning wheel motivates pupils to engage with reading, and the winning child is rewarded with a book of their choice to take home, keep and enjoy. They also receive a special reading goody bag containing a hot chocolate sachet, biscuits and a bookmark, helping to create a positive and memorable reading experience that families can share together.
- Our teachers are enthusiastic readers who regularly share their favourite children's books, authors and characters with pupils. By talking passionately about the books they enjoy and recommending texts to classes, staff act as positive reading role models. These conversations spark curiosity, encourage book discussions and inspire children to develop a lifelong love of reading.
- Each year, we train a team of Reading Leaders to support pupils who may struggle with reading or feel reluctant to engage with books. These pupil leaders listen to their peers read, help to develop fluency and comprehension, and are trained to provide encouragement and prompts in a supportive, caring and positive manner. This peer-led approach helps build confidence, fosters positive relationships and promotes a culture where reading is valued and celebrated across the school.
- We actively encourage parental involvement in reading and provide regular opportunities for families to share the joy of books with their children. Throughout the year, parents are invited into school to read with their children and observe high-quality phonics and reading lessons. Special events such as Stories and Snuggles with Mum for Mother's Day and Reading Date with Dad for Father's Day were extremely well attended and celebrated the importance of reading together at home. During World Book Week, parents were invited to visit school and read their favourite children's book to their child's class, creating memorable experiences that inspired a love of reading and strengthened the partnership between home and school. Children were especially excited and proud to see their parents sharing stories with their classmates, helping to promote reading as a valued and enjoyable activity.
- We encourage children to read a wide range of texts and media to develop broad reading interests and lifelong reading habits. Our library offers an extensive selection of children's newspapers, magazines, non-fiction texts and fiction books, ensuring that every child can find something that captures their interest. By exposing pupils to different text types and formats, we help them develop reading stamina, expand their knowledge of the world and recognise the value and enjoyment of reading beyond traditional storybooks.
- We regularly gather pupil voice to ensure our library and classroom book collections reflect the interests of our children. By listening to pupils' recommendations and involving Reading Leaders in decisions about new texts, we help to create an engaging and inclusive reading environment. Recently, our male Reading Leaders requested Manga-inspired texts for the library. The introduction of these books has had a particularly positive impact on boys who were previously reluctant readers, increasing engagement, encouraging reading for pleasure and helping more pupils to develop positive reading habits.
- At Wallbrook, we believe that reading is taught, not simply heard. Our teachers are passionate advocates for reading and consistently model the skills of effective readers through explicit teaching, discussion and shared reading experiences. As a Trust, we have moved away from the phrase ‘hearing readers’ because listening to a child read alone is not enough. Teachers actively teach decoding, fluency, expression, vocabulary and comprehension strategies, carefully modelling what successful reading looks like. Through this approach, alongside their genuine enthusiasm for books and reading, staff inspire children to become confident, capable and enthusiastic readers.
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