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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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'Shameful' thousands of children unable to read well

Dame Julia Cleverdon, chairwoman of the Read On. Get On. coalition, said it was "shameful" that thousands of children leave primary school unable to read well enough to enjoy reading.

While many schools and communities have made good progress in helping children read well in recent years, if we continue as we currently are, we will still fall a long way short of all children reading well by the age of 11 by 2025.

Business as usual is not an option. It would leave another generation of low-income pupils with curtailed life chances and restricted horizons.

– Read On. Get On. coalition

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