Conclusion 59

In the extension of the National Year of Reading to the National Decade of Reading which we are recommending, the Department for Education must make authors, publishers and booksellers partners in the design and delivery of activities and initiatives, including co-design of and joint funding for activities and initiatives and guidance on best practice approaches that can be taken to encourage and support children to read for pleasure. As part of the National Decade of Reading, the Department should work with the industry to set measurable benchmarks on this which should be achieved by the end of the decade. It should also ensure that the role of these industries is included in its forthcoming evaluation of the National Year of Reading. (Recommendation, Paragraph 206) 97