FAQs

Booktime is the national free books programme for reception-aged children in England and Wales, providing a free book pack for children aged 4-5 years to share and enjoy with their family and friends. Booktime aims to promote the pleasure of books by encouraging families to have fun reading together.

In Wales, Booktime is part of Pori Drwy Stori, a new programme for children starting school. Pori Drwy Stori aims to raise standards in the three core areas of learning: Language, Literacy and Communication Skills, Mathematical Development, Personal and Social Development, and Well-Being and Cultural Diversity. The programme is managed by Booktrust Cymru and is funded by the Welsh Government.

Booktime is brought to you by Booktrust, the independent charity empowering people through reading and writing, and Pearson, the world's leading learning company.

Booktime is brought to you by Booktrust, the independent charity empowering people through reading and writing, and Pearson, the world's leading learning company.

No - Booktime is a charitable programme, and book packs are a free gift from Pearson, the world’s leading learning company, for children to enjoy sharing with family and friends shortly after they first start primary school. The programme is managed by independent charity Booktrust and supported by central government funding.

Booktime book packs are intended for reception-aged children to take home and share with family and friends. Booktime will aim to provide book packs for:

• Every eligible child (4-5-years-old) starting primary school in England and Wales during the school year 2013-14. Children will be in reception class in England and the Foundation Phase in Wales. This includes state, independent, voluntary, private or special needs schools, and covers second and third intakes throughout the school year.
• All eligible children in England (aged 4-5 years) who may not currently be attending mainstream education, such as: Elective Home Educated, Looked After, and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Children; and those in children’s hospices or attending hospital schools.

• To order packs for children who are not attending mainstream education please use this form.
• To order book pack for children with additional needs please visit our Additional Formats section for more information and an order form.

We have enough book packs for reception-aged children (4-5-years-old) and cannot provide book packs for any other year groups or purposes. This means we cannot provide packs for Nursery or Year 1 children, even if these classes are mixed with reception, or we risk running out of packs.

Schools should receive enough book packs for all the children who are expected to start reception this school year (2013-14).

We ask that teachers store any spare book packs needed for further intakes or for new arrivals during the school year, and give them to new reception children shortly after they first start school.

Booktime aims to encourage reading for pleasure by providing free book packs for all eligible children, including those with additional needs.

In England we offer a range of additional titles and formats to complement this year’s book packs. To find out about the range of materials available from Booktime on request, please visit our Additional Formats page.

All reception-aged children (aged 4-5 years) are entitled to receive a free Booktime book pack. Book packs are delivered through local primary schools. If you are home educating your 4-5 year old child you can request your child’s book pack directly from Booktime by completing  this online form.

For general enquiries not related to book pack orders please use the details below:

 Email enquiries: booktime@booktrust.org.uk

Post

Booktime
Book House
45 East Hill
London SW18 2QZ

Phone

General enquiries: 020 8516 2977

Press and publicity (media enquiries only): 020 8875 4827

Fax

020 8516 2978