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1.5 million children 'will be unable to read well by 2025'

Around 1.5 million children will leave primary school unable to "read well" by 2025 if urgent action is not taken to tackle the issue, research suggests.

It warns that progress in improving children's reading levels has been too slow in the past, with poor youngsters most at risk of being left behind.

The Read On. Get On. has been launched to ensure that by 2025, all pupils are reading to a good standard at age 11.

It comes as an influential group of MPs warned that an "alarmingly high" proportion of adults do not have a good grasp of reading, writing and maths.

Urgent action is needed to tackle the issue, the Commons Business Select Committee said as it warned those who struggle the most with literacy and numeracy are not getting the help they need.

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1.5 million children 'will be unable to read well by 2025'

Around 1.5 million children will leave primary school unable to "read well" by 2025 if urgent action is not taken to tackle the issue, research suggests.

It warns that progress in improving children's reading levels has been too slow in the past, with poor youngsters most at risk of being left behind.

The Read On. Get On. coalition suggests reading with a child for 10 minutes a day can make a difference. Credit: J.M. Guyon/Candybox Images/Press Association Images

The study has been published by a group of leading charities, teachers, parents and businesses, which is launching a new campaign to ensure that by 2025, all pupils are reading to a good standard at age 11.

Reading with a child for just 10 minutes a day - even reading from the back of a cereal packet - can make a difference, the Read On. Get On. coalition suggests.

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