Working together to build a nation of confident readers; Estyn’s enhanced focus on reading

13 February 2026

Child in a school uniform holding up a book in a library, with another child and bookshelves filled with books in the background.

A blog by HMI Anthony Jones.

Whether you work in schools or have been following the news, you’ll know that improving reading skills is a key priority across Wales. From the early years, right through to post compulsory education, reading is vital for improving the life chances and success of the people of Wales and it’s an integral part of our work at Estyn.

From our work on inspection, we know that there is effective practice in all sectors, but variability in provision means that too many learners are not fluent or advanced readers by the time they leave school or further education. Research tells us that this affects a young person’s life in numerous ways including:

Long term economic hardship

Higher risk of involvement with the criminal justice system

Poorer health management

Perpetuating the cycle of poverty

Loss of independence and social withdrawal

Preventing progress in all stages of education

Estyn is committed to playing an active role in improving standards of reading and from September 2026 will have a three-year enhanced focus on reading.

What is Estyn doing differently in the ‘three-year enhanced focus’?

To support Wales and education in breaking this cycle, Estyn have adapted our activities in the following ways:

Reading is a priority on every core inspection for nearly all providers

Estyn has always considered the quality of reading in the different sectors we inspect and we will continue to look closely at the progress learners make in reading at all stages. We will enhance the way we look at this and develop inspection activities to support us to gather evidence and report more clearly about the standards of children and young people’s reading skills.

There will be a sharper focus on the quality of provision for reading

We understand that the most effective examples of teaching and learning in reading involve a range of different methodologies. In light of this, our enhanced focus will look at the approaches providers have chosen to develop reading and how well these are supported in Welsh and English lessons and across the curriculum. we will look at how well providers promote and support a culture of reading for pleasure and success.

We will consider how well leaders secure improvements in the provision for and standards of reading

We will have discussions with leaders about how they have prioritised and planned to improve reading and will consider the impact this work has had on improving provision and standards.

Highlight strong practice and support for improving reading

Alongside inspection activity, Estyn will share insights from what’s working across Wales and continue to publish materials, podcasts, findings from thematics and examples of effective practice to support providers to improve.

So what is working so far in improving reading?

Where we see strong practice on inspection for reading:

Leaders…

Prioritise improving specific aspects of reading based on their pupils’ needs

Evaluate provision for reading based on its impact on learners

Target and adapt resources and follow up actions on areas in most need of improvement

Have a strong focus on improving the teaching of reading in Welsh, English and relevant areas across the curriculum

Ensure professional learning helps teachers to develop learners’ reading skills

Promote a positive culture of reading for pleasure and for learning

Ensure all staff understand their responsibility in developing reading

Teachers…

Plan authentic and purposeful opportunities for learners to develop and improve their reading skills

Use challenging and relevant reading materials that support both subject and skills development

Deploy a range of different reading approaches that are adapted to their learners’ needs

Support the development of a positive reading culture by modelling the joy of reading

These factors ensure learners make progress in reading and staff have a strong understanding of effective teaching methods which are matched to individual needs. Estyn will continue to share updates and examples of this in the future.

Continuing the conversation – where next?

Reading is the foundation of all learning and Estyn is committed to supporting school and settings with this. You can visit our website for the most up-to-date information around Estyn’s approach to reading and make use of different materials to enhance your approaches to reading.