School Environment - Core, Silver and Gold activity ideas - Reading spaces in schools

Aug 31, 2026

A practical, budget-aware guide for Reading Schools to create appealing, comfortable, and visible reading spaces across the school environment. It outlines core accreditation expectations and provides activity ideas for transforming classrooms and using displays, themes, audio, and comfort-focused seating. It then expands into Silver-level approaches, encouraging reading beyond the classroom through outdoor reading time, clubs, and celebration events.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPosters

FormatDOCX

Pages9

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

About this resource

Core activity ideas

Decorate your classroom

Pick a theme

Lower your wall displays

Make it comfortable

Make it visible

Silver activity ideas

Take it outside

Resource templates

School Environment Core, Silver and Gold level activity ideas to help you create spaces to read in the school environment Key Area: 1.3.2 Level: Core, Silver, Gold Resource created by Scottish Book Trust scottishbooktrust.com Scottish Book Trust is a registered company (SC184248) and a Scottish charity (SC027669). Contents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u HYPERLINK \l "_Toc80199140" About this resource PAGEREF _Toc80199140 \h 1 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc80199141" Core activity ideas PAGEREF _Toc80199141 \h 2 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc80199147" Silver activity ideas PAGEREF _Toc80199147 \h 4 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc80199153" Gold activity ideas PAGEREF _Toc80199153 \h 6 HYPERLINK \l "_Toc80199158" Resource templates PAGEREF _Toc80199158 \h 7 About this resource We expect Reading Schools to show how they have provided appealing and comfortable spaces to read in the school environment and make reading visible. Creating spaces in schools can be challenging, especially when considering budget pressures and space constraints, however this resource offers practical and affordable ideas, together with examples of making reading visible across school settings. A rich reading environment for learners is key for a Reading School at any level. Within this resource you will find ideas for Core, Silver and Gold level. We’ve also included tips on how to use the editable and printable resource templates also available on our website. Core For core accreditation, schools should provide appealing and relaxing reading areas in collaboration with learners, and use displays to promote reading in their setting. Decorate your classroom If you don’t have a school library and rely on using your classrooms for reading and storing books, why not decorate the space to create a wonderful reading environment for your learners. Simple things like bright book-related wall displays, book recommendation posters and imaginative wall art can bring a space to life and really broadcast that reading for pleasure message. If you store your books in your classroom, why not have your learners help to categorise and label the bookshelves, making the book selection process fun and interactive. Pick a theme We have seen many schools associate their ERIC and DEAR time with a theme, such as a Magical Woodland. When the whole-school call is made for all learners to drop everything and read, a forest soundscape is played across the school tannoy system, transporting the learners to a peaceful forest to read in. The use of audio is a great way to ‘set the scene’, creating a fun atmosphere for reading. You can enhance this further by including lighting effects, such as lamps, fairy lights and projected images. Lower your wall displays A simple and cost effective way to jazz up your classroom is simply to lower your wall displays. We found a number of schools adjusted the height of their wall displays, bringing them down to desk level, as opposed to the upper half of the wall. In doing so, they created a lovely backdrop for their learners’ reading time whilst also making their displays interactive, with learners responding to what they were reading in real time. It would be great to get your learners involved in the creation and placement of displays; why not tie them into a class project and find a selection of books and stories to compliment the theme. Make it comfortable Reading for pleasure comes hand in hand with comfort and creating relaxing, comfortable reading spaces is a great way to promote the benefits of a good book. If you have the budget, procuring beanbags and soft furnishings for your school can really elevate your learners’ reading experience, whether that be in a designated space or room (a book nook, perhaps), in your school library or in a corner of your classroom. We understand that there is not always the budget to buy furniture, but we have hears of schools scouring local ‘freecycle’ groups and charities for second hand furnishings for the

FAQs

What is the purpose of this School Environment resource for Reading Schools?

It helps schools create appealing, comfortable reading spaces and make reading visible in the school environment, with practical, affordable ideas and examples.

What should Core-level schools focus on?

Core-level schools should provide relaxing reading areas in collaboration with learners and use displays to promote reading in their setting.

How can schools improve classroom reading spaces without a school library?

They can decorate classroom reading areas with bright book-related displays, posters, and imaginative wall art, and involve learners in categorising and labeling bookshelves.

What Silver-level activities does the resource suggest?

Silver-level schools should sustain core activities and create opportunities for reading beyond the classroom, including regular outdoor reading time and incorporating reading into clubs and celebration events.

Aug 31, 2026

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