Day: September 1, 2026

Mel Giedroyc, M G Leonard and Bryan Burnett among the first to pledge as Scotland celebrates the joy of reading

Scotland is being invited to celebrate the joy of reading as a new national library campaign launches with one simple ask: make a pledge to read.

Wee Read, taking place on Wednesday 7 October 2026, will bring together people of all ages, interests and abilities for a collective celebration of reading for pleasure – whether that means getting lost in a novel, flicking through a magazine or comic, finding new recipe inspiration in a cookbook or finally getting round to the manual that’s been sitting on your bedside table.

The campaign is a Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) programme funded by the Scottish Government and supported by libraries, culture and literacy partners across Scotland.

Part of the National Year of Reading 2026, Wee Read officially launched at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, with comedian, writer and TV presenter Mel Giedroyc, award-winning children’s author M G Leonard and Scots language poet Len Pennie among the first to make their Wee Read pledge alongside children, families and a curious audience of all ages.

TV and radio presenter Bryan Burnett, award-winning author, playwright, academic and journalist Ali Smith, novelist Hannah Lillith Assadi and journalist and author Alison van Diggelen also showed their support for the campaign, making their pledge to have a Wee Read on 7 October.

The launch formed part of the Festival’s vibrant programme of activities celebrating the power of words, stories and ideas, providing a fitting setting to invite people across Scotland to join in a shared celebration of reading.

The message behind Wee Read is simple: reading doesn’t have to look a certain way to count. From poetry and comics to newspapers, cookbooks, blogs and travel guides, Scotland is being encouraged to discover – or rediscover – the joy of reading whatever they enjoy, for however long they can.

Ahead of the national reading moment, people across Scotland are now being encouraged to visit www.WeeRead.scot and make their own pledge to read on 7 October.

The campaign also shines a spotlight on Scotland’s local libraries which offer a gateway to discovering something new, with free access to a wide variety of reading materials, resources and activities.

Alison Nolan, chief executive of SLIC, said: “Reading has the power to entertain us, inspire us, help us escape and connect us with other people. But at its heart, Wee Read is about something wonderfully simple: making time to read something you enjoy.

“There is no right way to take part. You can read a novel, a comic, a magazine, a newspaper or a recipe; you can read for five minutes or fifty. Every read counts.

“We hope Wee Read encourages people across Scotland to find something that sparks their interest or rediscover the pleasure of an old favourite. With our brilliant local libraries on hand to help everyone find their next read, there’s never been a better time to get involved – and perhaps even kickstart a new reading habit.”

From families reading together and schools sharing stories, to workplaces taking a reading break and communities coming together around a favourite book, Wee Read aims to create a moment of shared enjoyment across the country with a target of 50,000 pledges.

People are encouraged to make their pledge, visit their local library to find their next read and share their recommendations using #WeeRead26.

Make your Wee Read pledge today at www.WeeRead.scot and join Scotland in celebrating the joy of reading on Wednesday 7 October 2026.

Making sure children get the support they need in school

Consistent additional support for learning

Children with additional support needs will be supported wherever they are in Scotland through a new National Staged Intervention Model for additional support for learning that is being developed.

Education Secretary Màiri McAllan made the commitment as she set out plans to provide a nationwide approach to identifying, planning, delivering and reviewing support for children and young people who experience barriers to learning in all council areas – to ensure they receive the right support at the right time.

The newly-published route map sets out the next steps to introducing a model that will set out more clearly how support is delivered to meet the needs of children and young people in different areas.

It is being developed in partnership with local government in response to recommendations from the McManus Review of additional support for learning, and will be rolled out in phases with full implementation across all of Scotland’s 32 council areas planned for August 2028.

Ms McAllan said: “Every child deserves the best possible support that is right for their needs, regardless of where they live in Scotland so they can realise their full potential.

“A National Staged Intervention approach will help ensure that how support needs are identified, responded to and reviewed is consistent, no matter where a child or young person goes to school.

“Through this Model children and young people will receive support that is right for them, and families will have greater understanding of the support available to their child. For teachers, it means clearer national guidance being developed alongside updated training, aligned with the Model to help them support pupils with additional needs.

“We will develop the Model jointly with councils, teachers and school staff, and with children and their families, to ensure the National Staged Intervention Model delivers the support children and young people need across Scotland.”

Councillor Tony Buchanan, COSLA Spokesperson for Children and Young People said: “COSLA is committed to working collectively with Scottish Government to improve the outcomes for all children and young people.

“We recognise the need in particular to support children with additional support needs and are focused on building upon the strong practice that already exists and recognise that developing a national model offers opportunity to further enhance the consistency of approach our children and young people.

“Together with our professional associations and colleagues in Scottish Government, we look forward to enhancing what is working well and helping embed continuous improvement across the support framework that is available to children and families in all parts of Scotland.”

Sheena Devlin, General Secretary at the Association of Directors of Education Scotland (ADES) said: “ADES welcomes the direction of travel set out today. Scotland already has much strong practice in supporting children and young people with additional needs, and a national model offers the opportunity to build greater consistency of approach to recording and planning for our children and young people.

“We look forward to working with the Scottish Government and partners to shape the detail, ensuring the Model strengthens what is working well while improving the support framework available to children, young people and families wherever they live.”