Reading spaces in Best Start Family Hubs

That this House welcomes the National Literacy Trust’s call for a reading space in every Best Start Family Hub; is concerned that not every child grows up with access to books, libraries or adults who feel confident reading with them; notes that the earliest years of a child’s life are the most important for language, learning and development; acknowledges that reading is one of the simplest, best and most cost-effective ways to support children’s development; recognises that the emerging network of up to 1,000 Best Start Family Hubs provide an opportunity to build reading into infrastructure that government is already investing in, bringing books, shared reading and practical support into places families already know and trust; further recognises that a £6.5 million national investment would provide a cost-effective means of establishing permanent reading spaces in every Best Start Family Hub; highlights that investing in early literacy is an investment in prevention, helping young people avoid falling out of education, employment or training later in life; believes that Reading Spaces in Best Start Family Hubs bring together the economic case for early intervention, the evidence on the benefits of reading and National Literacy Trust experience of delivering place based literacy programmes through local infrastructure; and urges the Government to invest in reading spaces in family hubs to make sure that every child, wherever they live, has the best start to life.