The Mercers' Company 2023

Children and young people‘s enjoyment in reading and writing is declining; UK and international studies indicate considerable cause for concern (Clark et al., 2022; Mullis, 2023). Yet research reveals that the habit of reading in childhood is associated with academic, social and emotional outcomes and can mitigate educational disadvantages associated with gender and socio-economic status (OECD, 2021; Torppa et al., 2020). Writing research also evidences strong associations between motivation, self-efficacy and writing performance (Graham, 2017). Additionally, reading and writing for pleasure (‘R and WfP‘) are valuable in their own right. They play a pivotal role in supporting all children‘s learning and development, particularly the less advantaged. Young people‘s volitional
reading and writing matter.

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