Recently-announced £5m book funds to be underpinned with training, says DFE

The government has confirmed that the recently-announced £5m of funding for secondary schools will be ring-fenced for book purchases "to support and encourage reading enjoyment amongst their pupils".

To accompany this funding, the Department for Education has also released details of free CPD for secondary schools this spring, 'Unlocking Reading', which will launch in January 2026.

National Year of Reading

The £5m funding, which will be provided to every state-funded secondary school in England, forms part of the government's National Year of Reading provision, and is aimed at supporting secondaries in expanding their school book stock or library stock "to help inspire a love of reading". 

Schools will receive the funding during the National Year of Reading 2026 and further details will be communicated to schools in the coming months, said a spokesperson for the DFE.

'Unlocking Reading'

The Department for Education has also announced details of its new CPD for secondary schools, 'Unlocking Reading', launching in January, to underpin the book funds. The training is designed to equip schools with 'assessment tools and evidence-based strategies' to support secondary-aged pupils with their reading.

The CPD programme has been developed by independent education data company FFT and Royal Holloway, University of London, in partnership with a network of schools and other academics.

Secondary state schools will be funded by DfE to attend in-person training in the Spring Term 2026, supported by online training modules. The CPD programme is tailored for teachers, teaching assistants and school leaders to assist struggling readers, 'embedding a whole-school approach to improving reading and attainment'.

FFT Roadshow events

The CPD will be delivered by FFT via nationwide roadshow events 'designed to support secondary schools in improving reading outcomes'. Half-day sessions will be held at 20 venues across England, with two places confirmed for each school (SLT and a whole-school reading lead). This will be supported by an online CPD platform with ongoing webinars and on-demand training, providing 'practical, evidence-based strategies tested in real school settings', according to the Unlocking Reading website.

Find out more about Unlocking Reading, and register your interest