United Kingdom Literacy Association
The United Kingdom Literacy Association is a UK registered charity that supports effective literacy education, professional practice, research and children's reading.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The United Kingdom Literacy Association (UKLA) is a United Kingdom registered charity and professional association focused on literacy education. Its work is directed toward improving literacy practice and raising standards through professional exchange, research, publications, awards and educational activity. The association brings together people with an interest in literacy, including teachers, literacy specialists, researchers, teacher educators and others involved in children's language and reading development. UKLA was established in 1963 under the name United Kingdom Reading Association. Its original emphasis on reading reflected the importance of reading development within school education and professional practice. In 2003, the organisation adopted its current name, United Kingdom Literacy Association, reflecting a broader understanding of literacy that encompasses reading, writing, language, literary engagement and related classroom practices. A significant part of UKLA's publishing activity is its relationship with the Journal of Research in Reading. Wiley-Blackwell publishes the journal on behalf of UKLA. The journal provides a research-oriented forum for work on reading and literacy, linking the association's professional mission with academic scholarship. Through this activity, UKLA participates in discussions about literacy teaching, reading development and evidence-informed educational practice. UKLA also organises the UKLA Book Awards for children's books. The awards are notable for being judged by teachers, giving classroom professionals a direct role in recognising books that work well for young readers. The awards have included age-related categories for younger children, primary-age readers and older children or teenagers, as well as an information-books category in some years. The programme has recognised fiction, picture books, poetry or verse novels, illustrated works and nonfiction. Winners listed for recent years include No Fixed Address, The Eleventh Trade, Mixed and Counting on Katherine in 2020; Long Way Down, The Explorer and I Am Bat in 2019; and books such as We Come Apart, Welcome to Nowhere, Lesser Spotted Animals and Colin and Lee, Carrot and Pea in 2018. The association's public role is therefore broader than that of a conventional commercial publishing or education brand. It functions as a membership and professional body, a promoter of literacy standards, a supporter of research and a curator of children's reading recommendations. Its activities connect academic research, classroom experience and children's literature. UKLA's work is principally associated with the United Kingdom, although its journal, research relationships, professional discussions and recognition of authors and illustrators can have international reach. UKLA is not identified in the supplied reference material as a listed company, commercial subsidiary or part of a larger corporate group. Its institutional identity is that of an independent charitable association. No current executives, financial figures, ownership details or headquarters city are established by the supplied sources.
History
The United Kingdom Literacy Association was founded in 1963 as the United Kingdom Reading Association. Its creation placed the organisation within the UK's developing professional and educational conversation about reading, literacy teaching and standards in schools. Rather than operating as a commercial publisher or school system, the association was established as a charitable and professional body intended to promote good practice and support those working with literacy. During its early identity as the United Kingdom Reading Association, the organisation's name highlighted reading as a central educational concern. Over time, the field developed a broader conception of literacy encompassing writing, oral language, literary response, classroom communication and the ways children engage with different kinds of texts. In 2003, the association changed its name to the United Kingdom Literacy Association. The change marked an expansion of emphasis rather than a break with its original purpose: reading remained central, but the organisation presented itself as serving literacy in its wider educational sense. UKLA's work has combined professional activity with research dissemination. It has been associated with the Journal of Research in Reading, which Wiley-Blackwell publishes on the association's behalf. The journal gives the organisation an academic channel through which research on reading and literacy can be shared. This publishing role complements UKLA's practical mission by connecting educational research with teachers, teacher educators, researchers and other literacy professionals. Another enduring element of UKLA's public work is the UKLA Book Awards. The awards are judged by teachers, making classroom professionals participants in the process of identifying valuable children's books. Their categories have covered different stages of childhood and adolescence, with awards for younger readers, primary-age readers, older children and teenagers, and, in some years, information books. The listed winners demonstrate a broad literary range, including novels, picture books, illustrated works, verse narratives and nonfiction. Titles recognised between 2008 and 2020 include The Graveyard Book, A Monster Calls, Code Name Verity, The Lie Tree, The Day the Crayons Quit, The Explorer, Long Way Down and Counting on Katherine. The awards programme reflects UKLA's interest in the relationship between books and actual reading communities. Teacher judging gives the awards a practice-based perspective and distinguishes them from awards determined solely by publishers, critics or commercial sales. By highlighting books for use and discussion with children, the programme supports the association's wider aim of encouraging strong literacy experiences. UKLA's institutional history is consequently defined by continuity of purpose alongside an expanding understanding of literacy. It began as a reading association, adopted a broader literacy identity in 2003, supported scholarly communication through its journal relationship and promoted children's reading through its awards. The supplied sources do not establish a founding individual, a headquarters city, a detailed governance history, financial information or a list of officeholders. The association remains described as a UK registered charity and professional organisation.
- 2020
UKLA Book Awards recognise four categories
[1]The listed winners were No Fixed Address, The Eleventh Trade, Mixed and Counting on Katherine across age-based and information-book categories.
- 2008
UKLA Book Awards recognise picture books and novels
[1]The listed winners included Penguin by Polly Dunbar in the picture-book category and Here Lies Arthur by Philip Reeve in the novel category.
- 2003
Renamed the United Kingdom Literacy Association
[1]The association adopted its current name to reflect a broader remit covering literacy beyond reading alone.
- 1963
Founded as the United Kingdom Reading Association
[1]The organisation was established to promote good practice and standards in reading and literacy-related education.
Products and positioning
A UK professional and charitable literacy organisation connecting teachers, researchers and literacy practitioners with research, professional learning and high-quality children's books.
Research journal
Journal of Research in Reading
A scholarly journal associated with UKLA and published by Wiley-Blackwell on the association's behalf. It provides a platform for research concerning reading and literacy, helping connect academic findings with the professional communities engaged in literacy education.
Children's book awards
UKLA Book Awards
A teacher-judged awards programme celebrating children's books across age groups and formats. Its listed categories have included books for younger children, primary-age readers, older children and teenagers, together with information books in some years.
Brand decisions
2003
Adoption of the United Kingdom Literacy Association nameStrategyBackground
The former name, United Kingdom Reading Association, foregrounded reading, while the organisation's educational remit encompassed a wider range of literacy concerns.
Action taken
The association changed its name to United Kingdom Literacy Association.
Aftermath
The new name positioned the organisation as addressing literacy in a broader sense while retaining its established focus on reading and educational standards.
Recent events
- 2020
UKLA Book Awards recognise children's books selected by teachers[1]
Other
The 2020 UKLA Book Awards recognised No Fixed Address, The Eleventh Trade, Mixed and Counting on Katherine across age and information-book categories.
- 2019
UKLA Book Awards recognise recent fiction and picture books[1]
Other
The 2019 awards listed Long Way Down, The Explorer and I Am Bat among the winning titles in their respective categories.
- 2018
UKLA continues its teacher-judged children's book awards[1]
Other
The 2018 awards included We Come Apart, joint winners Welcome to Nowhere and Lesser Spotted Animals, and Colin and Lee, Carrot and Pea.
- 2003
UKLA changes its name from United Kingdom Reading Association[1]
Other
The organisation adopted the name United Kingdom Literacy Association, broadening its public identity beyond reading to the wider field of literacy.
Sources2 sources
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