Turning Pages, Changing Futures conference

Turning Pages, Changing Futures: a conference on Reading for Pleasure, social justice and opportunity

Reading for Pleasure is a powerful force for change. It opens doors, expands horizons and empowers children to shape their own futures. But too many young people face barriers to reading; barriers rooted in economic inequality, limited access to books and systemic challenges.

This conference, brought to you in partnership with the British Library, brings together teachers, school leaders, researchers and authors to explore how we can build inclusive reading cultures to ensure every child has the opportunity to experience the joy of reading.

📖 Keynote speakers: Leading voices in literacy, education, and social justice

🎤 Panel discussions: Teachers, reading culture experts and school leaders on breaking barriers

📚 Workshops: Practical strategies for building a reading culture in all contexts

💬 Author conversations: Stories that inspire and connect

Speakers include:

✨ Prof. Teresa Cremin - Teresa Cremin is Professor of Education (Literacy) at The Open University, UK, and co-Director of the Literacy and Social Justice Centre. Teresa’s research focuses on volitional reading and writing, teachers’ and children’s literate identities and creative pedagogies. Teresa is on the Board at The Reading Agency and works with the DfE on reading for pleasure. She has published over 30 books. Teresa is passionate about social justice and leads a research and practice coalition from the OU to support the development of children’s Reading for Pleasure which seeks to challenge educational inequities

✨ Joseph Coelho – Former Waterstones Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho is an award-winning performance poet, playwright and children's author. His debut poetry collection Werewolf Club Rules was the winner of the CLPE CLiPPA Poetry Award 2015. His work has poetry and performance at its heart, drawing on over 20 years' experience running dynamic creative literacy sessions in schools. He aims to inspire young people through stories and characters they can recognise.

More speakers to be announced.

Who should attend?

This conference is open to staff working in state-funded primary schools in the following London boroughs: Bexley, Bromley, Camden, City of London, Croydon, Greenwich, Hounslow, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Sutton, Wandsworth and Westminster

We are looking forward to welcoming teachers, school leaders, librarians anyone working in primary schools who is passionate about ensuring every child can experience the transformative power of reading.

📢 Let’s turn the page on inequality, together.

Tickets are currently limited to two delegates per school.

📚 Bring a book, share the joy

As part of the day, we’ll be running a children’s book swap; a chance to leave with a new recommendation and share something you love with fellow attendees.

We’d love each delegate to bring along one children’s book that you’d recommend to others. At the end of the conference, we’ll invite everyone to share a recommendation and swap your book — a simple way to keep the joy of reading flowing beyond the day.

Please note: This is a fully-funded event, so is free for schools, but spaces are limited and in high demand. Please only book if you are certain you can attend. If you can no longer make it, please let us know as soon as possible.