Quick Reads get adults reading Wednesday, March 4, 2009 - 17:33

Quick Reads are having an overwhelmingly positive impact on improving the reading levels of adults. Evaluation data from hundreds of literacy tutors shows that nearly all of them (98%) believe Quick Reads have been useful in helping their learners progress.

Published today ahead of World Book Day tomorrow, the survey of over 500 adult literacy tutors who, between them, teach more than 30,000 learners, found that:

• 85% of tutors have used the books within adult learning groups, an increase of 9% compared to 2008.
• There are 16% more learners at literacy level one after using Quick Reads. 
• 93% of tutors have seen increased personal confidence in their learners after using Quick Reads.
• 89% of tutors have seen improved communications skills in their learners after using Quick Reads.
• 78% of tutors have seen better written skills in their learners after using Quick Reads.
• 76% of tutors say that more than half their learners go on to read other Quick Reads.
• 62% of tutors say that more than half of their learners go on to read other books after using Quick Reads.

These figures represent an average increase of 7% on a previous evaluation published in March 2008.

A Public Accounts Committee report in January 2009 said that there "is an unacceptably high number of people in England who cannot read, write and count adequately."

However, Jill Harrison, a Literacy Tutor in Tameside, says:

"Quick Reads have had a tremendous impact on adult literacy tutors and learners. The books are bright, interesting, compact and accessible to even the most reluctant of readers. The mix of authors and genres ensures tutors have a wide range of resources at their disposal."

"Completing a Quick Read builds learners' confidence and encourages them to explore further reading. I wholeheartedly recommend them to tutors and learners. Quick Reads can, and do, change lives."

The Minister for Further Education, Siôn Simon says:

"Quick Reads are making a huge difference helping people to improve their reading skills, their confidence and their job prospects as well as helping their families."

"The project is an impressive partnership between the book trade, education, libraries, unions and employers, and puts adults on the path to accessing more formal learning. I urge all adults to pick up a book today, develop a love of reading and reap the benefits at home and at work."

Gail Rebuck, Chair of Quick Reads, says:

"I'm delighted that the Quick Reads initiative has become so well established and that this year's evaluation results show such a clear improvement on 2008. Last year's results were remarkable and this year they are even better."

"It is very encouraging that after only four years, practically all adult literacy tutors find Quick Reads have helped their learners' progress. This is a huge achievement for the many partners involved in this project and proves that the key to encouraging adult literacy lies not just in stressing the importance of reading, but in making the reading experience as accessible and enjoyable as possible."

The Quick Reads initiative, launched on World Book Day in March 2006, provides short, fast-paced books written by best-selling authors and well-known names specifically written for adult learners and people who have lost the reading habit. Authors who have written for the series include:

Quick Reads partners include:

• Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
• Arts Council England
• TUC's unionlearn and
• NIACE.

The target of the government's Skills for Life programme is to improve the literacy and numeracy skills of 2.25 million adults by 2010. That target was passed in June 2008 and the number of adults who have improved their literacy and numeracy levels now stands at 2.8 million. There is a target of 95% of adults achieving literacy and numeracy levels by 2020.

Over one million Quick Reads titles have now been distributed, many through educational centres, workplaces and libraries where each copy will have been read by several people. In addition, there have been over a million library loans of Quick Reads books.