England is the “only country where the oldest age group has higher proficiency in both literacy and numeracy than the youngest group, after other factors, such as gender, socio-economic backgrounds and type of occupations are taken into account”. According to a recent study by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development,

Statistics from 2014 show that one in five children in England cannot read well by the age of 11. Research conducted in 2012 found that 17% of 15 year-olds in England do not have a minimum level of proficiency in literacy. 1[DfE (2015) Reading: the next steps  2. [DfE (2013) Achievement of 15-Year-Olds in England: PISA 2012 National Report, 5. [OECD (2013) England & Northern Ireland (UK) - Country Note -Survey of Adult Skills first results 

In 2014/15, 30% of 5-15 year- olds in England had not visited a library in the last year. 11. [DCMS (2015) Taking Part 2014/15 Annual Child Report

Children who read books often at age 10, and more than once a week at age 16, gain higher results in maths, vocabulary and spelling tests at age 16 than those who read less regularly.  [OECD (2010) PISA 2009 Results: Learning to Learn: Student Engagement, Strategies and Practices p.32-4]↩

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Adults with lower levels of literacy are more likely to experience poor health and to believe that they have little impact on political processes, and are less likely to participate in volunteer activities. 26. [Taylor (2011) Reading at 16 linked to better job prospects]↩ 27. [OECD (2013) England & Northern Ireland (UK) - Country Note -Survey of Adult Skills first results note - United Kingdom.pdf p.2]↩ 28. [OECD (2013) OECD Skills Outlook 2013: First Results From the Survey of Adult Skills p.27]↩

Literacy has been found to have a relationship with depression: 36% of those with low literacy were found to have depressive symptoms, compared to 20% of those with the highest levels of literacy.

Reading for pleasure has been linked to a reduction in the symptoms of depression and to a reduction in the risk of developing dementia in later life.