Recently I attended a briefing held by the Libraries for Primaries campaign.

Did you know that 1 in 7 state primary schools in the UK lack adequate library provision? In our most disadvantaged communities, this rises to 1 in 4. This postcode lottery means over 750,000 children miss out on access to books that support their education, well-being, and empathy.

Libraries are essential for a great school experience and should not be seen as a luxury. While every prison is required to have a library, it’s shocking that this isn’t the case for primary schools.

Research shows that 82% of parents agree: access to a school library shouldn’t be a postcode lottery.

I will be writing to the Secretary of State on Education to see what can be done to address the issue.

For more information please visit https://www.librariesforprimaries.org.uk/