Funding Dyslexia-Friendly Books in Your Secondary School

Secondary school leaders face a quiet but persistent challenge. Many pupils arrive in Key Stage 3 reading well below their chronological age. Standard library books are either too difficult for them to decode, or too childish to engage their interest.

Fortunately, you can address this gap using targeted government support. Under the Department for Education's (DfE) guidance, Funding for books and reading materials for secondary schools, eligible schools can access dedicated funding to purchase high-quality reading resources. This post outlines how to secure these funds and allocate them strategically to support your dyslexic and struggling readers.

The Gap in Secondary School Libraries

When a pupil with dyslexia enters secondary school, the reading gap often widens. Standard teenage fiction relies on complex sentence structures and dense vocabulary. On the other hand, books written for lower reading ages are frequently designed for early primary pupils.

No fourteen-year-old wants to be seen reading a book featuring cartoon animals. This mismatch leads to frustration, disengagement, and a decline in reading for pleasure.

To break this cycle, secondary libraries need books that respect the reader's maturity while matching their actual reading level. If you are also looking at wider funding structures for inclusion, you may find our guide on using the inclusive mainstream fund helpful for broader strategic planning.

Understanding the 2026 Secondary School Book Funding

As part of the National Year of Reading 2026, the DfE is providing direct funding to secondary schools to boost their reading provisions. According to the official DfE guidance, Funding for books and reading materials for secondary schools, this money is specifically intended to help schools purchase books, texts, and supporting reading materials.

To make the most of this allocation, school leaders should focus on three main steps:

1. Check your eligibility: Ensure your administrative team has flagged the incoming funding allocation details from the DfE.
2. Ring-fence for inclusion: Dedicate a specific percentage of this budget to support pupils who are working below age-related expectations.
3. Audit your current stock: Ask your librarian or English lead to assess how many books in your current library are suitable for pupils with a reading age of under ten, but feature age-appropriate themes.

Selecting High-Low and Decodable Books

When spending your funding, prioritize two types of books that make a measurable difference for dyslexic pupils:

1. High-Low Books (High Interest, Low Readability)

These books are written specifically for older pupils with lower reading ages. They feature sophisticated, age-appropriate themes like sports, mystery, relationships, or science fiction. However, they use clear spacing, cream-colored paper to reduce visual stress, and accessible vocabulary.

2. Age-Appropriate Decodable Books

Some secondary pupils still struggle with basic phonics. They need systematic, decodable books to build their confidence. Look for decodable series designed specifically for catch-up readers in Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4.

If you are evaluating whether your school's early intervention strategies were sufficient before pupils reached secondary school, you can read our analysis on phonics in our post: Is the 'Love of Reading' Enough for a Child Who Struggles with Phonics?.

How to Track the Impact of Your Library Funding

To justify the allocation of resources, school leaders must track the impact of new library acquisitions. You can do this without adding heavy administrative burdens to your teaching staff:

• Monitor library borrowing data: Track the borrowing rates of the new high-low titles. Look at which pupils are borrowing them and how often.
• Conduct brief pupil surveys: Ask struggling readers if they feel more confident finding books they enjoy in the library.
• Integrate digital tools: Alongside physical books, digital reading aids can help pupils access the curriculum.

For example, our app, Lexy, is built on multisensory structured literacy principles. It supports reading fluency and phonics practice, making it an excellent digital companion to a newly stocked physical library. Lexy is free for up to five students, allowing your SENCO to test its impact in the classroom before considering wider deployment.

By combining targeted DfE funding with carefully selected books and supportive technology, you can transform your secondary school library into an inclusive space where every pupil can become a confident reader.