Parents across Portsmouth know that they are their children’s first teachers.
Long before a child sets foot in a classroom, it’s at home that things take shape – their babbling language, their growing curiosity, and their stretching imagination.
And as Portsmouth’s avid readers recognise, books can be the fuel that powers children’s development.
That’s why Labour has made 2026 our National Year of Reading – a mission not just for schools and libraries, but for all of us, and part of our Plan for Change. Because if we want children in Portsmouth to love books, we need to show them that we love books, too.
Children who read regularly do better in school, have broader vocabularies, and even experience improved mental health and wellbeing. And yet, in recent years, the number of children reading for pleasure has fallen. In fact, only one in three children say they enjoy reading.
It’s a decline that rings alarm bells loud and clear – and it’s on every one of us to help turn it around: government, schools and parents alike. As your MP, I know I have a responsibility too.
So that’s why I’m backing this national effort and encouraging constituents to make time for reading – even just 10 minutes a day – in our homes, on the sofa, on the bus.
Our habits are contagious and if our children see us captivated by a story, they’ll want to discover the magic for themselves. As a former teacher in our city I know first-hand how books can inspire, educate and fuel our young peoples imagination.
But I know not every family in Portsmouth finds reading easy. Not every home can be filled with books. Not every parent feels confident reading aloud. And time can be tight – money even more so.
But this National Year of Reading is about support and opportunities. We’re working with the National Literacy Trust to help schools, libraries and community groups get more reading into daily life.
Reading is the key that unlocks every subject. You can’t excel in science, history or even maths without the ability to read and understand complex ideas. But even more than that, reading builds empathy. It allows children to step into someone else’s shoes, to understand different experiences, and to imagine different futures.
In an age of distractions – with much talk about rising screen time and shrinking attention spans – we need to make a conscious choice. The truth is, children in Portsmouth still love stories – that hasn’t changed. We just need to make space for those stories to be heard.
So let’s start today. Let’s make reading visible again. Let’s talk to children about what we’re reading. Let’s make reading something joyful.
The National Year of Reading is a call to action – but more than that, it’s an invitation: to rediscover our community’s love of reading, to connect with our children, to lead by example.
