A Literacy Strategy We're Proud to Support

Here’s one undeniable and unavoidable fact, which every one of us who cares about a child’s reading journey should be prepared to confront:

‘Today’s literacy journey is vastly different to that which it once was’.

And here’s another, which, if you’ve followed the mantra of Lexonic for a while, you’ll know all too well:

‘No-one should be limited because they can’t read’.

Combine the two, and you can imagine why my colleagues and I are so delighted to have had sight of the new National Literacy Trust (NLT) strategy. Released in detail, the three-year plan very much acknowledges that we’re now in an altogether different landscape when it comes to tackling low levels of literacy.

It’s a strategy which is openly preparing to consider how technology is changing what we interpret by ‘being literate’ and ‘engaging in reading’. It’s also taking into account the brutal truth about how poverty is rising and resulting in lower literacy rates, and honing in on the fact that the pandemic had an enormous bearing on early years engagement.

Having recently signed the NLT’s pledge, we are genuinely delighted with the strategic direction being proposed and are 100% intent on being a partner in their attempts to ‘empower’ individuals over the next three years.

A "Whole System" Approach

This approach is completely aligned with our belief that transforming literacy is a ‘whole system’ scenario, which means looking at:

• Education in practice (in the classroom)
• In the home (aiding parents to be further enablers)
• In the community (preserving and enhancing our libraries)
• In the workplace (ensuring leaders understand the stigma around illiteracy)
• Even in the justice system

The NLT strategy majors on four fundamental ways of empowering a population of would-be readers:

1. By directly supporting literacy skills and building confidence
2. By helping professionals increase the level of literacy provision
3. By standing side by side with communities to tackle literacy inequality
4. By influencing leadership and policy to create lasting change

Turning Strategy Into Action

We can attest to the importance of all four intentions.

We know from our classroom-based work that when we take learning directly to children who have previously lived in a world of compromised reading engagement, their confidence

soars. We see the smiles. We see them ‘high five’ our tutors at the manner in which they’ve been able to grasp concepts and techniques.

We know that when we can bring interventions like Lexonic Leap and Lexonic Advance to our teacher audience, we are directly enabling them to better support their young people, and that the positivity and the commitment to a school-wide reading culture is inevitable.

We see time and again that where a community is supported in overcoming literacy challenges, everyone wins. And we make no apology for always making a noise when we bang the drum among leaders and influencers who need to hear our mantra.

So, from us here at Lexonic, it’s a huge A+ for the strategic direction. To the National Literacy Trust: We’re with you. We will champion this intent at every turn.

Put the Strategy Into Practice

Aligning with the national strategy requires proven, evidence-based tools. Lexonic provides the interventions that directly support literacy skills, build confidence, and help your staff increase their provision.

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