A major new report commissioned by the European Commission has just been published, offering timely, evidence-based guidance on literacy teaching across Europe. Entitled Effective Practices for Literacy Teaching, the report is co-authored by Colin Harrison (UKLA), alongside internationally respected colleagues Greg Brooks, P. David Pearson, Sari Sulkunen and Renata Valtin.

Prompted by a long-term decline in reading performance across European nations — evident in the 2022 PISA results — the report draws on the latest research to address how reading should be taught from early years through to adulthood. The document is notable for its strong emphasis on practices that foster collaborative dialogue among pupils, helping them to make meaning from and critically evaluate texts, including digital media.

What makes the report particularly valuable for teachers is its twenty detailed, research-informed case studies of effective classroom practice, spanning a broad age range. These examples are designed to be both illustrative and directly applicable, providing insight into what works in real-world contexts.

Colin Harrison, as lead author, has also written a concise 1,200-word summary of the report for the European Commission to help disseminate its findings more widely among policymakers and practitioners.

We encourage members to explore the full report and consider how its insights might inform practice here in the UK.