At Bett UK 2026, educators gathered for a highly anticipated session titled “Go All In: Reigniting a Love of Reading.” The session featured A.F. Steadman, acclaimed author of the smash-hit Skandar fantasy series, alongside Andrew Ettinger, Director of Education at the National Literacy Trust.

As we celebrate the National Year of Reading 2026, their dynamic discussion offered an inspiring blueprint for reigniting a love of literature among young people. If you missed the live event, here are the top 10 takeaways to help transform the reading culture in your classroom, home and community.

1. Give kids a “free pass” on grammar

Many children have brilliant ideas but feel intimidated by the physical act of writing them down. To overcome this, educators and parents should give them a “free pass” to ignore spelling and grammar in early drafts. Hearing that even established authors make mistakes and rely on editors helps relieve that pressure

2. The “washing machine” of creativity

When young writers worry they are “copying” their favourite books, Steadman reassures them that their imagination works like a washing machine. Everything a child reads, along with their life experiences, mixes together in their mind to create a completely new and unique story.

3. Embrace a “format-agnostic” approach

We need to stop worrying about whether children are reading traditional long-form physical books. Reading Taylor Swift lyrics, a football match report, graphic novels, or listening to audiobooks are all brilliant and valid ways to meet children where they are and spark a deeper interest in text.

4. Leverage the power of a book series

Fantasy series like Skandar can be highly effective in bridging the reading drop-off gap between Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3. Book series help build reader confidence. Once a reluctant reader feels comfortable in a fictional world, they are much more likely to pick up the next book.

5. Visibly model reading habits

Adults should make a conscious effort to read in front of children and bring books back into everyday environments. Instead of making reading a mandated chore tied to rewards, adults can naturally introduce books and have casual, curious conversations about the characters and themes they are exploring.

6. Create whole-school reading experiences

Reading becomes far more exciting when it is a shared experience across the entire school. When staff across departments read the same book and incorporate it into their classrooms, reading quickly becomes a cool and normalised part of daily school life.

7. Champion diversity and inclusion

It is profoundly important for young readers to see themselves represented in literature. Steadman emphasised her commitment to writing inclusive stories featuring diverse backgrounds, mental health issues and same-sex relationships, even when facing pushback or threats of censorship in some regions.

8. The 2026 “Go All In” campaign is highly structured

The National Literacy Trust’s free programme provides schools with a term-by-term framework for building reading enthusiasm. The Spring term focuses on classroom culture and understanding children’s needs, the Summer term expands into whole-school reading culture and library usage, and the Autumn term focuses on turning schools into community reading hubs.

9. Massive national events will drive engagement

Schools can engage students by participating in large-scale national events, including broadcast assemblies featuring celebrities and major authors. Key competitions include the National Reading Champion Quiz and the World Book Day “Footy and Booky Quiz,” which saw a staggering 600,000 children participate last year.

10. Book giveaways for schools

Publishers Simon & Schuster are heavily supporting the campaign by publishing special “Go All In” branded editions of the Skandar series. Schools had the chance to win live on the Bett show floor, and in a remarkable act of generosity, the publisher is donating 30,000 copies of the book to children living in the 21 most deprived areas of the country.

Ultimately, reclaiming the magic of reading requires a collective effort from educators, parents, publishers and the wider community. The National Year of Reading 2026 provides the perfect opportunity, and a wealth of free resources, to make this happen. By embracing inclusive stories, modelling a love of literature and going “all in” together, we can ensure every child has the chance to discover the transformative joy of reading.

Enjoyed this recap of what happened live at Bett UK 2026? Keep your eyes peeled for even more highlights coming soon.