Ready to Read: Northern Ireland

Ensuring that all children are reading well by the age of 11 would make a game-changing contribution to creating a fairer country.

As Ready to Read explains, this can only be achieved if there is commitment to boosting the early language skills of the poorest children. Firm foundations in early language skills are critical to breaking the cycle of educational inequality – and to improving the wider life chances of the poorest children.

This report sets out how high-quality services and support for families can help overcome the impact of poverty, highlighting the potential for services – including early learning and childcare, health visiting and libraries – to support young children’s language development. And it explains why this potential is not always fulfilled.