It's National Story-Telling Week!

National Storytelling Week (2nd–8th February 2026) arrives at a critical time, as research indicates that young people’s enjoyment of reading and writing is currently at its lowest level. To combat this, the National Literacy Trust has launched the "Soundtrack your story" theme, providing a unique opportunity for teachers to re-engage students by connecting music, rhythm, and lyrics to literacy.

This week also serves as the first "Go All In Together" moment for the National Year of Reading 2026, a government-backed campaign designed to help students "read into" their existing passions. Here is how you can use the upcoming events and resources to support your pupils:

1. Bridge the Gap with Lyrics and Rhythm

Data shows that over 60% of children and young people (aged 8–18) regularly read song lyrics digitally, while nearly 1 in 5 report writing lyrics at least once a month. By using the "Soundtrack your story" theme, you can tap into these existing habits to promote writing for pleasure. Teachers are encouraged to explore how soundscapes, film soundtracks, and gaming music can help students express their identity and see the world through a different lens.

2. Integrate Curriculum-Linked Resource Packs

The National Literacy Trust is providing teacher-facing resource packs for Early Years through to Key Stage 3. These packs are specifically designed to:

• Help deliver exciting storytelling projects that meet national curriculum requirements for writing.
• Provide a "flexible menu" of activities to inspire story creation through music and rhythm.
• Support inclusive learning, with BSL versions of videos and resources designed to help students—such as those with dyslexia—focus on creativity over technical barriers.

3. Sign Up for Interactive Virtual Workshops

To bring expert voices into your classroom, several FREE interactive virtual workshops are scheduled for Tuesday 3rd and Wednesday 4th February 2026. These sessions will be live-captioned and include BSL interpretation:

• Key Stage 1 (Ages 5–7): Annemarie Anang on building stories through sound (3rd Feb, 9:30 am).
• Key Stage 2 (Ages 7–11): Alim Kamara on rap and rhythm (3rd Feb, 11:00 am).
• Key Stage 3 (Ages 11–14): Jeffrey Boakye on how music and lyrics tell stories (4th Feb, 10:00 am).

4. Enter the National Writing Competition

Teachers can submit the work of KS2 and KS3 pupils to a national competition supported by Amazon. This is a powerful incentive for students, offering:

• The chance to be published in a National Storytelling Week anthology.
• The opportunity for KS2 pupils to have their work performed and recorded by rapper Alim Kamara.
• Prizes including book bundles for winning schools.

Why It Works

Feedback from previous years suggests these storytelling projects effectively remove the "I can't think of how to start" barrier that many pupils face. By hearing from professional storytellers and authors, students are often able to "let go" and apply their creativity more freely.

Get Involved: Teachers can sign up for workshops and access the full suite of "Soundtrack your Story" resources via the National Literacy Trust website. For specific queries, contact the Young Writers team at young.writers@literacytrust.org.uk.