The Context & LoveReading’s Purpose
LoveReading exists because reading matters, and books change lives.
It’s well-documented that reading for pleasure, and improving reading standards, has a huge impact on children’s wellbeing, academic achievements, and future success.
But the sad truth is, cuts to school funding means many children don’t have access to well-stocked libraries. Many don’t get to experience the magic of reading that may well have made you a reader for life.
As a result, LoveReading has created a way to redress that shortfall; an easy way for you to share the magic of reading through supporting a school in your local community – simply buy books through our bookstore, a platform with social purpose.
Why does this matter?
School libraries face a chronic lack of investment, with the most disadvantaged communities most affected: 1 in 8 primary schools in England do not have a library, and this jumps to 1 in 4 schools with a higher proportion of children on free school meals. There is no statutory requirement for schools to have a library.
Application Guidelines
Who Can Apply
The LoveReading4Kids Funding for Schools Scheme accepts applications from state funded schools in the UK. Primaries, secondaries and early years’ settings are all eligible to apply.
PTAs are not eligible to apply, the application needs to come directly from the school.
How Much Can You Apply For
Schools can apply for between £1,000 and £5,000.
What We Fund
We fund books with a specific focus on reading for pleasure. We will not fund textbooks or curriculum books.
Areas for Consideration will include:
- Schools with income deprivation or cultural deprivation
- FSM
- IDACI
- Literacy levels
- Schools looking to improve standards
Evidence of these will need to be supplied to validate your application.
When Can You Apply
Online applications can be submitted at any time. Once received, it will take up to three months to receive a decision.
Please note that any grant awarded will be awarded as credit to be spent on www.lovereading.co.uk or www.lovereading4kids.co.uk and should be spent within six months of being awarded.
If an application is declined, the school is eligible to reapply 12 months after the previous application date.
If an application is approved, the school is ineligible to apply for the Scheme for three years after the approval date due to intense competition.
How To Apply
Applications need to be submitted online by logging into your School Dashboard below.
If you are not a member of the LoveReading4Kids community, you can sign up your school here, which gives you access to the School Portal, our hub for all things reading for pleasure
https://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/school/dashboard
Information you will need:
- Email address and full contact details
- Latest school population statistics (e.g. Full roll, FSM, PP, EAL, IDACI)
- Latest Ofsted report (or equivalent)
- Latest Ofsted interim monitoring letter (if applicable)
- Latest assessment results (especially in relation to reading and literacy)
Starting a New Application
You will need to login into your Schools Dashboard in order to submit your application.
If you are new to the site, you can register your school here: https://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/school/register
From your dashboard you can access in progress applications and view previously submitted applications.
Personal Information
LoveReading4Kids is committed to protecting all personal information you provide to us. We will only use contact information you provide for administration, evaluation and research purposes to facilitate our grant making and to further our charitable activities. Personal contact information will not be made public in any way. Please also see our Privacy Notice.
These guidelines were last updated on 17 October 2022.