Books at home ‘boost children’s education’

A new study has emphasised the impact of having books available at home, concluding that regular access has a direct impact on pupils’ results, irrespective of the parents’ own education and occupation.

Researchers found that children coming from a “bookish home” remained in education for around three years longer than young people born into families with empty bookshelves.

The study, comes amidst fears that some teachers are being forced to use worksheets rather than books to boost their performance in literacy tests. Michael Rosen, the former Children’s Laureate, has said that many pupils now go all the way through their formative years at school without reading a single novel.

In the University of Nevada study researchers analysed more than 70,000 people in 27 countries to gauge the effect of family circumstances on educational chances.

A child in a household with a 500 book library would statistically remain in education for an average of three years longer than those with little access to books. And as few as 20 books in the home still had a positive impact.