Written evidence submitted by Quick Reads (ALE0008)

 

Executive Summary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Introduction to Quick Reads:

1.1: Quick Reads was founded in 2006, by Dame Gail Rebuck, and is a distinct initiative which operates under the auspices of World Book Day, a registered charity whose objective is the promotion of literature to all. We are funded by the Arts Council, by publishers via World Book Day, and by our corporate sponsors, Mars Galaxy, whose support includes funding our PR campaign.

1.2: Quick Reads provides new, specially-commissioned short books by bestselling writers designed specifically to engage emergent adult readers. Written to literacy guidelines and vetted by literacy experts, Quick Reads titles are accessible to adults whose reading is at Level One of the Adult Literacy Curriculum, or Entry Level 3 - the equivalent to that expected of children when leaving Primary School aged 11.

1.3: It is crucial that adult readers at this level have access to books they can understand and can complete, but equally vital that they access books they enjoy. Quick Reads uniquely provides stimulating and engaging stories with adult themes and content which are well-written, by well-known and talented authors.

1.4: Here are the latest collection of Quick Reads titles, published February 2014:

1.5: Since 2006, 123 Quick Reads titles have been published and 4.5 million copies distributed. As well as making Quick Reads titles available through libraries and retail channels, our main focus is to get Quick Reads books and resources into the hands of those who need them the most. We undertake a year-round programme of outreach work in partnership with several organisations and charities, including the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE), The Reading Agency, National Literacy Trust, World Book Night, Unionlearn, English PEN and the British Council.

 

  1. Quick Reads books are unique and highly valued:

2.1: Since 2008, NIACE have undertaken an annual evaluation survey on the use and impact of Quick Reads. Survey respondents include a range of practitioners including literacy teachers, librarians and union learning representatives. Evidence from evaluations includes the following responses:

      There is a wide variety of books available, with different genres.

      The books are of good quality, making them readable and enjoyable for adults with low level literacy skills.

      The books are written by well-known authors, making them more attractive to learners.

      Reading one title often leads to reading further Quick Reads titles (89% of learners), therefore it is vital that there is a variety of genres and authors, including well-known writers to make them more appealing across the board.

 

  1. Quick Reads books are suitable for a wide range of emergent adult readers:

3.1: Quick Reads are suitable for a wide range of emergent adult readers including those with low literacy skills, ESOL learners, reluctant readers, learners with learning difficulties/disabilities, and, increasingly, busy people who may have lost the habit of reading for pleasure.

3.2: To quote two respondents from recent Quick Reads evaluation surveys:

“They are useful for a wide range of readers, e.g. low literacy skills, busy (e.g. full-time workers, single mums), ESOL learners, teenagers, reluctant readers.”

“I use them with literacy learners, people learning to write and ESOL learners. They can be used adaptively with learners from Access 2 to Intermediate 2 learners (SCQF levels).”

 

  1. Quick Reads are used in a variety of settings:

4.1: The most recent evaluation survey mentions the following settings:

4.2: There are several case studies of Quick Reads reading groups on the Quick Reads website here (http://www.quickreads.org.uk/content/reading-group-case-studies) which again demonstrate the breadth of use and application of Quick Reads in a variety of settings.

4.3: Our partnership with The Reading Agency (http://readingagency.org.uk/) engages libraries, and there have been over 3.5 million library loans of Quick Reads since 2006. Quick Reads titles are central to The Reading Agency’s Six Book Challenge programme, (http://readingagency.org.uk/adults/quick-guides/six-book-challenge/) targeted at emergent adult readers. Lack of visibility for Quick Reads in a challenging retail environment means that we are heavily reliant on libraries to stock a wide range of titles, including titles that have been made ‘out of print’ by the publisher.

4.4: In 2013, Quick Reads partnered with The Reading Agency to launch a pilot in prisons called ‘One Quick Read, One Prison’, as part of The Reading Agency’s Six Book Challenge. Copies of Quick Reads titles were donated by publishers to prison library staff and books were distributed into communal areas of the prison rather than the library so were ideal for getting books to people who don’t normally visit the library. Quick Reads also facilitated visits by authors to 2 prisons. To quote Neil Davies, head of reducing reoffending at HMP/YOI Portland:

"There has been a great deal of interest in this year's Six Book Challenge. We have had three times more than usual sign up to the Challenge so far. This has no doubt been influenced by the support of Andy McNab for the One Quick Read One Prison scheme. Encouraging prisoners to read is a powerful tool in preventing them from re-offending as it is, for some, the first steps in re-engaging with the education system."

This again demonstrates the value of commissioning well-known writers for Quick Reads. The evaluation of the pilot was extremely positive and is being repeated in 2014.

4.5: Quick Reads works with employers nationwide via Unionlearn to support the use of Quick Reads books and provide resources specifically tailored to develop reading levels in the workplace and to build workers’ confidence and skills.  The books and accompanying resources are typically used in a variety of ways including establishing reading corners in canteens, book swaps and reading groups.

4.6: We are also exploring a potential partnership with Booktrust and their Bookstart Corner programme (see evidence and evaluation here). Bookstart Corner supports children’s centres across England to help engage families who are not accessing services. The programme targets families that need the most support to develop a love of stories, books and rhymes. We are exploring how Quick Reads books and resources could best be used by Bookstart Corner professionals for any of the adults in these families who may struggle with literacy.

 

4.7: In 2013, NIACE launched a pilot working in partnership with Homeless Charities, Housing Associations and Children's Centres to engage hard to reach social groups who often fall through the cracks of traditional adult learning provision. Five organisations have now been selected to pilot new Quick Reads Reading Groups, with learners being given the opportunity to achieve a new OCR Speaking and Listening Unit Qualification.

  1. Quick Reads are highly effective in improving adult literacy, but also play a wider part in bringing additional benefits to learners

5.1: Findings from the latest evaluation survey:

      98 per cent of respondents said that using Quick Reads has been effective at raising learners’/readers’ confidence to read;

      96 per cent of respondents said that using Quick Reads has been effective at improving learners’/readers’ attitudes towards reading;

      95 per cent of respondents said that using Quick Reads has been effective at improving learners’/readers’ literacy skills;

      93 per cent of respondents said that using Quick Reads effective at improving learners’/readers’ attitudes towards learning;

      89 per cent of respondents said that, after using Quick Reads for the first time, at least half of their learners go on to read other Quick Reads; and

      54 per cent of respondents said that, after using Quick Reads for the first time, at least half of their learners go on to enrol on other courses

5.2: Respondents were invited to indicate what other benefits to learners/readers they had observed. These include:

      75% Increased personal confidence

 

      63% Improved communication skills

 

      52% Raised aspirations

 

      48% progression into further learning

(source: ‘Quick Reads Evaluation Report 2014’ figure 7, published here)

 

  1. The effectiveness of Quick Reads in a variety of settings indicates that there are many ways to help adults learn to read:

6.1: The effectiveness of Quick Reads in a wide variety of settings, clearly indicates that helping adults with literacy through formal education providers is one route but is certainly not the only route. For some emergent adult readers, negative experiences of education may act as a barrier to formal learning.

“Negative experiences of education in school resulting in low literacy skills often affects adults’ self confidence in later life. This can impact on their willingness to engage in adult learning, impact negatively on their job aspirations and the ability of parents to support their children’s learning.  Building confidence in reading is fundamental to supporting achievement and success in all learning.”

(source: ‘Quick Reads Evaluation Report 2014’ published here)


CONCLUSION

Quick Reads books are a unique and vital resource for emergent adult readers and an established solution to improving adult literacy. There is a clear need for Quick Reads books to exist and a wealth of evidence to support their effectiveness and impact in helping adults to learn to read. There is also a wealth of evidence that supports an approach that includes, but is not limited to, formal education providers.  

All the evaluation evidence gathered since 2008 clearly indicates the need to continue to publish Quick Reads and make available a range of titles and authors. We rely on the generosity and support of publishers and authors to make this happen, as publishers cover all editorial and production costs and make a small advance payment to the authors.

Since our inception in 2006, publishers have sold Quick Reads books through traditional book retail channels, to cover their costs. However, due to the challenges the book industry faces in the retail sector, we are increasingly reliant on other channels of distribution.

Furthermore, we don’t expect that emergent adult readers are very likely to seek out copies from bookshops. It is our outreach work in partnership with various organisations that really makes the impact in getting Quick Reads books and resources to the people that need them the most. We have programmes and pilot projects with several organisations including NIACE, The Reading Agency, National Literacy Trust, Booktrust and others, bringing Quick Reads books and resources to educational practitioners, literacy tutors, reading groups, workplaces, libraries, schools and prisons.

To quote Carol Taylor OBE, Director of Development and Research at NIACE:

“Quick Reads continue to be a fantastic vehicle for engaging people in reading – but it has become so much more as it has developed. It is a vital strategy in prisons and offender institutions, both to engage people but also to encourage them to think about writing themselves. It has become an important element of family learning work, where Quick Reads can be used alongside children’s books. Large employers see Quick Reads as a way of showing their commitment to employees’ skills and wellbeing.”

We achieve all of this with limited resources and largely relying on the good will of publishers and partners. There is still much work to be done in order to establish a sustained approach to using Quick Reads to help adults learn to read.

 

With increased funding, we could develop the pilot projects and partnerships we have created to date and continue to widen our reach and maximise our impact, to ensure that Quick Reads reach the 1 in 6 adults of working age in the UK who struggle with literacy.

 

5 February 2014

 

Sources:

Quick Reads Evaluation Report, January 2014 (NIACE publication) - http://www.niace.org.uk/current-work/area/reading-for-pleasure

Quick Reads Impact Evaluation Report 2012-2013 (NIACE publication) - http://shop.niace.org.uk/quick-reads-impact-evaluation-201213.html