📚 Go All In This Summer!

Your Family's Guide to Free Summer Reading Magic ☀️

As we head into the summer holidays, we want to make sure our young people have plenty of opportunities to keep their minds active, creative, and inspired.

As you may already be aware, this year, our school is proudly backing the National Year of Reading 2026. The message of this national campaign is simple: Go All In! Reading doesn't just mean sitting quietly with a traditional chapter book. It includes audiobooks, comics, news articles, and graphic novels. Whatever your child loves - whether it is sports, gaming, animals, or art - there is a reading adventure waiting for them.

To help you keep reading fun and completely free over the break, we have secured free access to four incredible digital reading platforms. Here is your summer toolkit!

🚀 4 Free Reading Resources for the Summer Holidays

1. Authorfy: Bring Stories to Life 🎥

Want to know the secrets behind your child’s favourite books? Authorfy is packed with short, engaging videos where famous authors and illustrators share their creative processes, read extracts of their books, and set fun writing challenges.

• Best for: Sparking creativity and getting a behind-the-scenes look at how books are made.
• How to access:
  1. Visit authorfy.com and set up a free family account.
  2. Browse the massive library of video masterclasses and download free extract packs to read together.

2. Pickatale: "Summer Holiday Reads" 📱

Through the National Year of Reading partnership, families can access Pickatale, an award-winning digital reading app. It features a specially curated library of over 200 brilliant, interactive children’s books with read-along audio and fun comprehension quizzes.

• Best for: Building confidence in younger readers and making screen time educational.
• How to access:
  1. Download the Pickatale app on your smartphone or tablet.
  2. Follow the instructions for accessing the parent section or the National Year of Reading library.

3. Reading Rocks: "Summer Book Boost" 📧

No planning, no hassle—just a weekly dose of reading excitement delivered right to your inbox. The Reading Rocks Summer Book Boost sends you a weekly email containing:

✨ A fun video from a children's author or illustrator.

📖 A short book extract to read instantly.

🎧 An audiobook snippet to listen to, plus a child-friendly podcast link.

🎨 Easy, zero-prep activities to keep them busy.

Best for: Parents looking for quick, ready-made ideas to inspire their kids.

How to access: Sign up for free at wherereadingrocks.com/lp/summer-book-boost using your personal email address.

4. First News: Summer Newspaper Access 📰

Keep your child connected to the real world with the UK's leading newspaper for young people. As a National Year of Reading school, we have signed up for the First News Summer Reading Scheme! This gives your child full, free digital access to the weekly interactive newspaper, daily news updates, puzzles, and quizzes.

• Best for: Older children and teenagers (ages 7–14) who want to stay informed about world events, sports, and science.
• How to access:
  1. Click this link: https://subscribe.firstnews.co.uk/summer-reading-2026/235365724307/
  2. Fill in a very short form.
  3. Start reading!

💡 Quick Tips for Summer Reading Success

Just 10 minutes a day of reading can dramatically boost children's mental wellbeing, reduce holiday stress, and make sure they return to school in September feeling confident and ready to learn.

• Let them choose: Comics, magazines, gaming guides, and recipe books all count as reading! Let them follow their passions.
• Listen together: Audiobooks are a fantastic way for families to enjoy a story together on long car journeys or quiet afternoons.
• Visit the library: Don't forget your local public library! They are hosting the free Summer Reading Challenge.

Thank you for your continued support. We wish you and your family a wonderful, relaxing, and book-filled summer holiday!