Estyn’s Enhanced Focus on Reading: Supporting Every Learner to Succeed
From September 2026, we will launch a three-year enhanced focus on reading. We know that many learners are not fluent, advanced readers by the time they leave school or further education and want to be part of the solution that breaks this cycle. Our aim is to support every education provider — from non-maintained nursery settings to schools, colleges and adult learning services — to improve literacy levels for all learners in Wales. We will focus our inspection work and develop a range of resources to help drive standards across Wales; to give all learners the best chance to succeed.
Reading fluently is essential for learning, well-being and life chances and research shows that low literacy is strongly linked to underachievement, poverty and crime. Those with poor literacy are twice as likely to be unemployed, earn on average 60% less, and over half of the adult prison population have reading skills below those of an 11-year-old. We want to ensure that learners are able to make better progress across all areas of the curriculum and have better life chances.
Chief Inspector, Owen Evans said:
“Reading holds the key to so much. There is no foundation more important and whilst there is excellent practice in the teaching of reading across Wales, not all providers focus enough on improving learners’ reading. We want to be part of the solution which will help break the cycle between low literacy and poverty.
“Through our inspection and engagement visits, we will gain a better understanding of how well providers develop a strong culture of reading and evaluate the effectiveness of the systems supporting learners as they move through different stages of reading development. Our inspectors will consider whether providers use structured, evidence-informed approaches suited to learners’ needs, and with a cross-sector focus on reading, we will identify what’s working well and will share findings to support improvement across the education system.
“Reading is a lifelong skill that opens doors to future opportunities and through this targeted approach, we aim to better support learners to make progress across all areas of the curriculum and have better life chances.
“A collaborative effort to drive standards in reading is what our learners deserve and we will work with Welsh Government, Welsh local authorities, Dysgu, Adnodd, Care Inspectorate Wales, and Qualifications Wales to ensure our efforts are aligned.”
Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle said:
“Reading is the cornerstone of learning and a fundamental skill that shapes life chances. Improving literacy levels is a top priority and I welcome Estyn’s enhanced focus on reading and their commitment to working collaboratively across the education system to drive up standards. By ensuring every learner in Wales develops strong literacy skills, we’re not just improving educational outcomes — we’re opening doors to employment, tackling inequality and giving our young people the tools they need to thrive. I look forward to seeing the impact it will have on learners across Wales.”
Estyn will continue to develop a programme over the coming months which integrates a clear focus on reading into all inspection and engagement work. This will look slightly different in each sector and will be supported by a comprehensive training programme for all inspection staff ahead of launch in September 2026. In addition to this, Estyn will host a programme of live and virtual events to share best practice with education providers.