£10 million to provide a library in all primary schools

The Chancellor has committed over £10 million in funding to guarantee a library for all primary schools by the end of this parliament.  

One in seven primary schools in the UK do not have access to a library according to figures from the National Literacy Trust. That rises to one in four for disadvantaged areas, and almost half of schools in England without a library are located in the North. Government will set out further details of the scheme in due course.  

Funding for this scheme will come from £132.5 million of Dormant Assets unlocked to support young people to access opportunities, announced by the Chancellor and the Culture Secretary on 2 June 2025. 

Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders' union NAHT, said: "One of the most important tasks of a primary school is to foster a love of reading in their pupils.

"Libraries can play a vital role in that work, giving children access to a wide variety of books to enjoy and explore. They are at the heart of many primary schools.

"Additional funding for those schools that haven't been able to afford a library to date is welcome. Some schools may face challenges in terms of space and staffing, but we hope they will be able to use this funding to help with that.”