Children’s reading habits and comprehension lags behind in Wales compared to the other UK nations, according to a major study of more than 1m children. The annual “What Kids Are Reading” report from Renaissance Learning looked at analysis of regional variation in reading habits and includes 20,000 children from Wales.
It found that although children in year one of primary in Wales read books one year above their chronological age on average their peers in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland read books two years ahead of their chronological age.
That pattern continues through primary and then children’s reading “slumps” when they reach secondary school in all four nations. Wimpy Kid books are among the top three favourites for both primary and secondary age children UK-wide.
