Learning to read is a national problem

Just came across the Evening Standard's campaign to raise awareness about the charity Volunteer Reading Help. It's all about helping children to read in London.

While this is a great idea, this is a national problem and there are already systems in schools where parents can volunteer to read with other children in their primary schools. I have been volunteering at my daughter's school for three years as a Better Reading Partner. The difference a little bit of focussed reading makes to a child is simply amazing, not only with their reading but also with their overall confidence. Why does it take a London based newspaper to raise awareness that there is a reading problem in the UK?