CLPE becomes part of the National Literacy Trust

CLPE, the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education, has become a subsidiary charity of The National Literacy Trust. The organisations say the new structure will help the national literacy charities to "turbo-charge the charities' combined impact on literacy education in the UK and internationally".

All CLPE staff will remain with the exception of chief executive Rebecca Eaves, who now moves on from the organisation. Their roles will be integrated into the National Literacy Trust's existing structure under the management of the National Literacy Trust's Senior Leadership Team.

The CLPE's training and research programmes and the CLiPPA poetry awards will be retained, and CLPE's extensive children's library at its Webber Street home will remain open as a valuable resource for teachers as well as a work, event and library space. CLPE will also retain its brand identity and National Portfolio Organisation status with Arts Council England.

The organisations plan to work together to deliver literacy education and to strengthen its training offer to teachers, from primary through to adult education, as well as building its commitment to researching and promoting diversity in children's books and EDI in the classroom, and to find new ways to use CLPE's library for teachers.

Jonathan Douglas, chief executive of the National Literacy Trust, said that CLPE's expert teacher training programmes, research about the representation of ethnicities in children's books (Reflecting Realities) and library of children's literature "are extraordinary assets that play an important role in supporting teachers across the UK and promoting children's literacy". 

Working together, he added, the organisations can "close the UK's literacy gap". "I am incredibly excited for CLPE to become a part of our organisation and to strengthen our combined impact."

Catherine Rose, chair of trustees of CLPE, said combining the two organisations' respective knowledge, assets and experience offered significant potential "with the shared understanding of everything that a child gains from being able to read well and being well read".

The consolidation of the charities comes at a time of budget constraints in the charitable sector and with many schools cutting budgets; both CLPE and the National Literacy Trust offer educational training programmes.  

Several recent reports, including by the National Literacy Trust, have also highlighted the national reduction in reading and writing for pleasure with high numbers of children and young people leaving school without the reading and writing skills they need to thrive.

Joanna Prior, chair of trustees of the National Literacy Trust, said: “I have long admired the work Centre for Literacy in Primary Education does to transform the life chances of thousands of children through supporting teacher development, greater representation in children's literature and more opportunities to read and am therefore delighted to welcome CLPE to the National Literacy Trust family."