Skip to main content

Written question asked by James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 17 June 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 19 June 2025. It was answered by Stephen Morgan (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 July 2025 on behalf of the Department for Education.


Children: Literacy

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will publish plans to strengthen the home learning environment to support literacy (a) in the early years and (b) for school age children.

Answer

This government is committed to strengthening the home learning environment to support literacy and school readiness as part of the Plan for Change. In 2025/26, we are investing £10.7 million through Family Hubs in home learning environment services to help parents create language-rich, nurturing settings that support early communication and confidence. In the recent Spending Review, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, confirmed that the government will continue to invest in and expand the Family Hubs programme as part of the Spending Review 2025.

Our Little Moments Together campaign provides free resources and advice to encourage parents to chat, play and read with their children, simple actions that make a lasting difference. Promoting a culture of reading for pleasure at home supports children’s language development, emotional wellbeing and cognitive growth, particularly in the early years. These benefits extend into later childhood, contributing to improved educational outcomes and a lifelong engagement with learning.

For school-age children, we continue to encourage parental engagement in reading and learning at home, recognising that strong early foundations are key to long term educational success.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
60798
Session
2024-26
Related items
Home Education: Literacy
Wednesday, 9 July 2025
Written questions
House of Lords
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Children Literacy
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk