16th March 2026
Insights from Our Expert Educators
As we reflect on a wonderful World Book Day and look ahead through this National Year of Reading, there has never been a better moment to celebrate why reading matters.
From the very first bedtime story to the books that shape who we come, reading is one of the most transformative gifts we can give a child. Our teachers share their insights on why it matters – at every age, and in every part of school life.
“At Langley, we believe that reading is far more than an academic skill; it is a doorway into imagination, empathy and possibility. When children connect with stories, they learn to understand perspectives different from their own, to recognise emotions, and to explore ideas that stretch their thinking and inspire their curiosity.
From Bluebell Nursery through to our Senior School, we see every reading moment as a chance to nurture confidence, deepen understanding and build the habits that support a lifelong love of learning. A child who loves reading grows not only as a learner, but as a human being. It is one of the most powerful gifts we can give them, and one that will shape their future in ways that reach far beyond the classroom.”
Clare Rackham, Headmistress at Langley Prep School
At Bluebell Nursery, story time is a special and purposeful part of our day, taking place both inside and outside our classrooms. It is where we nurture children’s communication, language and early literacy skills alongside supporting their emotional, social and cognitive development.
From as young as six months, we gently begin building their early language foundations. Holding a book, turning its pages, listening to a story – these simple moments carry enormous developmental weight. Babies’ brains are highly sensitive to tone, rhythm and patterns in spoken language which strengthens neural pathways needed for later literacy.
“Storytelling is also a powerful emotional experience – it gives children protected time to sit closely with trusted adults, fostering warmth and building strong attachments.”
Children often recognise and relate to the feelings of characters they meet in books, which helps them begin to identify and express their own emotions – a skill that serves them throughout life.
As your child grows and progresses through our nursery, daily reading provides them with a wide range of words, rich language and understanding of complex sentence structures. It develops phonological awareness – the sounds in words, rhyming patterns, syllables, and initial and end sounds – preparing them for the exciting journey of learning to read.
Stories also spark imagination and curiosity. You can see this come alive in children’s play, particularly in our Bluebell roleplay town, where the characters and worlds they’ve encountered in books help them explore ideas and make sense of their world.
Above all our goal at Bluebell Nursery is for every child to build confidence, enjoyment and develop a genuine love of books and storytelling.
Jemma Holmes – Pre-Prep Lead
Systematic synthetic phonics programmes such as Little Wandle, which we use in Pre-Prep School, give children a strong foundation in reading by explicitly teaching the relationship between phonemes and their corresponding graphemes in a carefully sequenced way.
This early focus on word recognition is crucial. Being able to accurately decode unfamiliar words and read familiar words automatically helps secure essential decoding skills and prevents cognitive overload later on.
“As children become more confident and automatic in their decoding, they are able to shift their attention towards developing prosody, reading with expression and meaning.”
This, in turn, supports greater fluency and frees up cognitive capacity for deeper comprehension, enabling children to engage more fully with texts, build vocabulary, and develop a lifelong confidence and enjoyment in reading.
Lucy Beedell – Head of English, Langley Prep School
Reading is one of the most powerful tools we can give our minds. At Langley Prep School, we ensure all our pupils have access to a wide range of appropriate books that showcase characters from various ethnic backgrounds, genders, abilities and interests.
When we read, we strengthen our comprehension and critical-thinking skills, helping us understand the world more deeply. It supports children’s cognitive development, giving their brains the exercise they need to grow. Reading nurtures imagination and creativity, encouraging children to think independently and express themselves with confidence.
“Reading doesn’t just make us better learners – it makes us better thinkers, communicators, and people.”
Books also help children internalise how stories are structured, which later strengthens their own writing. And perhaps most importantly, reading helps us understand emotions – our own and those of others – building empathy and emotional resilience that extends far beyond the classroom.5
Sarah Menegaz – Deputy Head, Academic (Prep)
Reading is a crucial life skill that underpins success across every academic discipline, equipping young people with the vocabulary, comprehension, and analytical tools they need to thrive. In a world of Artificial Intelligence, being able to “read between the lines” so to speak and using one’s critical skills are paramount.
Regular reading strengthens cognitive development, boosts academic attainment, and helps pupils access increasingly complex curriculum content with confidence. Timetabled daily reading sessions, targeted individual support, and the introduction of Accelerated Reader have transformed our reading culture at Langley Prep.
“The OECD highlights that a child’s love of reading is the single biggest indicator of future academic success.
Beyond measurable outcomes, reading nurtures intrinsic motivation. When pupils encounter stories, ideas, and perspectives that resonate with them, they become more eager to engage with learning. Our recently refurbished, well-stocked Library offers a calm, inviting environment for children to lose themselves in a good book.
Reading also opens windows to the wider world, allowing young people to explore cultures, experiences, and viewpoints far beyond their immediate environment – shaping curious, capable and confident young adults ready to explore, engage and excel
Izzy Temple – Y3&4 Head of Year
Reading can be a powerful form of personal reward and positive self-care, offering a calm, absorbing space where young people can unwind and feel restored. The pleasure of getting lost in a good book, or becoming immersed in an audiobook, provides an escape from daily pressures while also nurturing wellbeing.
Through stories, children encounter characters who face fears, navigate friendships, and grapple with emotions, helping them better understand both others and themselves. This imaginative journey supports emotional regulation by giving them language for their feelings and models for coping with life’s challenges.
“Reading helps shape who children are – fostering resilience, compassion, and a stronger sense of identity.”
Reading also deepens empathy. As children step into different perspectives, they learn to recognise and connect with the experiences of others. Over time, these moments of immersion add up to something meaningful – all while offering the simple, sustaining joy of spending time with a story that feels like a safe and comforting companion.
From our nursery to our Senior School, books and storytelling are woven into the educational journey at Langley. Reading is not simply a subject on the timetable – it is a cornerstone of the way our children learn, grow and develop as whole people. Neuroscience tells us why. Every time a child reads or listens to a story, their brain is doing far more than processing words. Multiple neural networks fire simultaneously – language, memory, visual processing and emotional response working together. Over time, this repeated activation strengthens the connections between these networks, building a brain that is more capable, more flexible, and more resilient. Reading, quite literally, changes the architecture of a developing mind. At Langley, we draw on this understanding every day. Whether through daily reading sessions, our beautifully stocked library, or the stories shared between a child and their teacher, we believe that the right book at the right moment can be transformational.
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