Responding to a new survey by the National Literacy Trust which found that half of parents do not read daily to children of pre-school age, James Bowen, assistant general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“One of the most important things a parent can do to support their child’s education is to read with them at home. An early love for books and reading can have a huge long-term impact. It is therefore concerning to see suggestions that parents are reading to their children less frequently than previously.

“There are undoubtedly huge pressures on families currently and cuts to community services and local libraries certainly have not helped either.

“We should be doing everything we can to encourage parents to read with their children as often as possible – just five minutes a day can make a real difference.”