Major education summit heads to Birmingham

A major one-day summit on evidence-based reading practice for educators will take place in Birmingham in-line with the National Year of Reading.

The Daisy Education Reading Summit is a dedicated one-day event bringing together teachers, literacy leaders and practitioners to explore innovative, research-informed strategies for reading success in schools. The Summit takes place on Wednesday 4 March 2026, at the Holiday Inn Birmingham Airport, NEC.

The conference will celebrate a shared belief that reading can change lives for every learner and give teachers practical ideas they can apply immediately to strengthen reading outcomes and confidence.

With reading attainment and enjoyment increasingly in the spotlight, and against a backdrop of the National Year of Reading’s campaign to make reading part of more people’s daily lives, this Summit offers an unmissable opportunity for educators to share best practice, access fresh perspectives and build practical classroom-ready approaches.

The Summit is part of The Daisy Reading Project, a national initiative from Daisy Education supporting the National Year of Reading 2026. Throughout the year, the project will invite schools to collaborate through engaging competitions, evidence-based CPD, free resources and thought leadership webinars - all designed to strengthen practice, inspire curiosity and build a love of reading in every child.

Ian Fitzpatrick, managing director of Daisy Education said, “With national efforts underway to reverse declining trends in reading engagement, this Summit comes at a pivotal moment for education. Teachers are being asked not just to improve outcomes, but to rebuild a love of reading and ensure every learner can access it.

“Reading is the foundation for learning, but it’s also so much more than that. It shapes confidence, curiosity and opportunity, and it can genuinely change lives for every learner. With the National Year of Reading 2026 creating renewed focus on what works, we’re proud to bring teachers and leaders together in Birmingham for a day that’s rooted in evidence, packed with practical ideas and focused on real classroom impact. The Daisy Education Reading Summit is about supporting schools to develop confident, independent readers and strengthen reading culture across the whole community.”

The Daisy Education Reading Summit is designed to offer practical, evidence-informed insights that schools can translate into everyday impact, whether in the classroom, at a whole-school level or across a trust. It’s an event for classroom teachers, literacy leads, school and trust leaders, SENCOs, reading specialists and those shaping professional development - anyone with a role to play in strengthening reading for all learners.”

The Summit’s programme blends practical workshops, keynote presentations and thought-provoking discussions specifically designed for educators, literacy leads and school leaders. Topics include:

● Embedding reading for pleasure and pupil motivation.

● Effective evidence-based reading instruction.

● Early intervention and closing the gap.

● Leadership of reading strategy.

● Strengthening reading cultures at school and home.

● Supporting pupils with high levels of need and effective differentiation.

● Teacher wellbeing through a positive literacy culture.

Tickets are available now (£50 + booking fee), and spaces are limited. For full programme details and registration visit the official event page