Bishop Challoner Parent Letter
Wednesday, 11th February 2026
Key Stage 3 World Book Day Author Workshops
Dear Parent/Carer,
We are delighted to inform you that this year, as part of our World Book Day celebrations, we will be welcoming author Simon Adepetun into school to deliver engaging and inspiring workshops for our Key Stage 3 pupils. The workshops will be taking place on Monday 2nd March.
Simon Adepetun is a highly regarded author whose work encourages creativity, imagination and a love of reading. His visit will give pupils the opportunity to hear directly from a published writer, explore the writing process and develop their enthusiasm for reading and storytelling.
The workshops will take place during the school day.
This year is also the National Year of Reading, highlighting the importance of reading for pleasure. Nationally, reading ages are currently at an all-time low, and it is vital that we work together to build a strong culture of reading. We strongly encourage parents and carers to support reading at home by reading with your child, discussing books and promoting reading as an enjoyable daily habit. Your support plays a crucial role in helping children develop confidence, comprehension and a lifelong love of reading.
On the day of the visit, Simon Adepetun will also be offering signed copies of his books for pupils to purchase:
The Beehive Novel - £6
The Curse of the Deadly Marshmallows - £8
These will be available to buy on the day, and pupils will have the opportunity to have their copies personally signed by the author. This is also optional.
We are very much looking forward to celebrating World Book Day in this exciting way and hope it will inspire our pupils to continue reading for pleasure both in school and at home. Thank you for your continued support.
If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me via syesmin@bishop.towerhamlets.sch.uk.
Yours faithfully,
Miss S Yesmin
English Teacher / Literacy Coordinator
The Department for Education has launched 2026 as the National Year of Reading, a UK-wide initiative aimed at reversing the decline in reading for pleasure and reconnecting communities with reading in all its forms. National data shows that only around one in three children aged 8 to 18 say they enjoy reading in their free time, and fewer than one in five read daily in their free time highlighting just how critical it is to promote reading both in school and at home.
Below are some ways you can support your child at home with reading:
- Libraries and community resources – You can sign up for an Idea Store card. Membership is free and gives young people access to books, eBooks, audiobooks, magazines and online resources. https://www.ideastore.co.uk/join-today
- Read together regularly. Reading 20 minutes a day exposes a child 1.8 million words a year as opposed to a child who reads 1 minute a day who only learns 8000 words per year.
- Encourage reading different genres: historical fiction, crime, non-fiction, supernatural.
- Talk about what you are reading with your child. Discuss plots, characters or something new you learned from a book. Conversation builds comprehension and connection to reading.
- Link reading to everyday life. Reading doesn’t have to be only books; recipes, instructions, signs, song lyrics or subtitles on TV can all support reading skills.
Other Helpful Links:
National Year of Reading – Families Page (ideas for shared reading practices)
https://goallin.org.uk/get-involved/families/
GOV.UK: 10 Top Tips to Encourage Children to Read (home strategies)
Reading Facts – The Reading Agency (evidence on the importance of reading)
https://readingagency.org.uk/our-work/our-research/reading-facts/
