Kit Taylor

Volunteers across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield will distribute 4,000 free books at the Festival of Reading on 22 August. The initiative responds to low book ownership in Yorkshire and the Humber, where 85.3% of respondents reported having a book at home, although children's reading enjoyment has recently increased. Events will include storytelling, reading trails and creative workshops, while Mayor Oliver Coppard has also launched the Little Big Book Club to improve access to reading opportunities across South Yorkshire.

Volunteers will distribute 4,000 free books to children in Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield on 22 August as part of the Festival of Reading. The initiative responds to National Literacy Trust research showing that Yorkshire and the Humber has one of the UK's lowest rates of book ownership, although reading enjoyment in the region has risen since 2025. Events will include storytelling, reading trails and creative workshops, while Mayor Oliver Coppard has launched the Little Big Book Club to expand access to reading opportunities.

Demand for Education, Health and Care Plans across Yorkshire more than doubled between 2019 and 2025, leaving families struggling to secure suitable specialist placements. Shona Mellon says her daughter Isla, who has complex medical needs including autism, ADHD and tube feeding, cannot safely attend the mainstream school offered by Leeds City Council and is challenging the decision at tribunal. In Kirklees, Jamie has waited 58 weeks for an EHCP and missed more than a year of education, while his father says the proposed placement does not provide the required one-to-one support. Official targets require assessments to be completed within 20 weeks, but only 7% were completed on time in Leeds. The Department for Education has promised major SEND reforms, additional funding, more specialist places and teacher training, while local councils cite rising demand and efforts to expand provision.