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Closed Make school libraries and librarians a statutory requirement

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Access to a school library and a qualified librarian should be the right of every child. Government should create a statutory requirement for every school to have a library and qualified librarian to support the development of learning and reading for pleasure.

Evidence shows that reading for pleasure improves life outcomes, lifelong mental health and academic attainment and has a greater impact on children’s attainment than socio-economic background. Despite this, 1 in 7 primary schools in England don’t have a library. Many more have a library but no qualified staff. Libraries are a statutory requirement in prisons but not in schools and in an era where schools are chronically underfunded anything non-statutory will be the first thing to disappear.

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    The Minister for Schools, Damian Hinds MP, responded on behalf of the Government.

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  • Petition closed

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    MPs debate the improvement of children's access to books

    On Tuesday 6 June, Alexander Stafford MP led a Westminster Hall debate in Parliament on the improvement of children's access to books.

    During the debate MPs discussed the importance of school libraries and how they can be supported.

    What are Westminster Hall debates?

    Westminster Hall is the second Chamber of the House of Commons.

    Westminster Hall debates give MPs an opportunity to raise local or national issues and receive a response from a government minister. Any MP can take part in a Westminster Hall debate.

    Debates in Westminster Hall take place on ‘general debate' motions expressed in neutral terms. These motions are worded ‘That this House has considered [a specific matter]'.

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  • Petition published

    This petition can now be signed.

    If this petition gets 10,000 signatures, government will respond to it.

    If this petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

    This petition will stay open until 8 September 2023.