MPs Call for Early Years Training to Prioritise Reading for Pleasure

Parliamentarians have called for strengthened training requirements for early years educators, emphasising the need to support practitioners—particularly those who are younger—in helping children develop a love of reading for pleasure. The recommendations highlight concerns that current training may not adequately prepare educators to foster enjoyment of books and stories alongside formal literacy skills. MPs argue that cultivating reading for pleasure in the early years is fundamental to closing attainment gaps and supporting long-term educational outcomes. This focus on workforce development underscores the critical role that high-quality early years provision plays in laying the groundwork for children's future learning, and signals potential policy shifts in professional standards and training requirements across the sector.