Children with dyslexia must not be overlooked when initiatives encourage children to read for pleasure. Parliament's Education Committee identified a specific gap in how those initiatives were being prioritised.
Its Reading for Pleasure report, published on 17 July 2026, identified children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), particularly dyslexia and other reading difficulties, as a missing priority group in the National Year of Reading.
The gap the report identifies
In paragraph 42, the committee asks the Department for Education to explain how it will support these children to enjoy reading and make future reading-for-pleasure work accessible to them. Read the finding in the full report.
The report also considers a wider range of formats, including comics, graphic novels and audiobooks. Evidence from the British Dyslexia Association highlights the importance of children accessing content that fits their age and interests, even when reading print is difficult.
Why this matters for your child
A reading activity can sound welcoming and still be difficult to join in with. Imagine a child who wants to talk about the same adventure as their friends, but finds reading the book independently exhausting. More encouragement alone does not change how demanding the print is.
There are two questions worth asking: how can your child enjoy the story now, and what teaching would help develop their reading skills? You can make room for both.
Different ways into a story
Your child might enjoy listening to an audiobook, sharing a comic or hearing you read aloud. This can give you something to enjoy and talk about together when reading every word independently feels tiring. The British Dyslexia Association has practical guidance on shared reading and audiobooks.
You could start with one relaxed moment:
- Ask your child what they would like to read or listen to.
- Choose something connected to an interest, rather than a book chosen only for practice.
- Pause to talk about a character, an interesting fact or what might happen next.
- Finish before the shared activity becomes a struggle.
For example, you might read a chapter aloud and let your child enjoy the story without asking them to take a turn. Another day, a comic about a favourite hobby might be the easier way in. These are options to explore together, rather than another task to get right.
Questions to take to school
You could ask which stories and formats your child can access, whether reading activities allow supported participation, and how their interests are taken into account. Separately, ask what targeted reading support is in place and how progress is reviewed.
Enjoyment should not depend on your child keeping up with everyone else's reading pace. A useful conversation looks at what would make participation possible for them.
What this means for families
Access to enjoyable stories and targeted reading support can work alongside each other. An audiobook does not provide the same practice as reading printed words, but your child does not have to miss out on a story while those skills develop.
Ask school what accessible formats are available and how reading practice is being supported. Our Helping at home page has more ideas and questions for that conversation.