Reflecting Realities Survey

From Centre for Literacy in Primary Education

Resource type: CPD resource

Price band: Free

Key stage: KS1, KS2

Region(s): All of UK

The Reflecting Realities Survey of Ethnic Representation within UK Children’s Literature is an annual publication that reviews the extent and quality of ethnic representation in picture books, fiction and non-fiction titles for primary-aged children (ages 3-11) published in the UK.

The Reflecting Realities survey was set up to provide definitive data that supports an understanding of how ethnicity and racially minoritised characters appear in children’s literature in the UK, and to help guide efforts to ensure that all young readers have access to high-quality, ethnically inclusive and representative texts.

The first Reflecting Realities report was published in 2018 and provides a benchmark against which subsequent publishing output has been measured. 2025 marks the publication of the 8^th report in the series.
The review is led by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education, in consultation with a steering committee made up of leading experts in publishing and education.
Each survey reports on insights generated from reviewing UK publishing output from the previous year and provides key quantitative data alongside qualitative analysis of the titles reviewed. Read our summary of the 2025 findings on our blog.

Cost: Free.

About the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education: CLPE is an independent charity whose aim is to raise the literacy achievement of children in primary schools by putting quality children’s literature at the heart of all learning. They have over 40 years’ experience of providing evidence-based CPD training and high-quality resources to support teachers. On 1st June 2025, CLPE became a subsidiary charity of the National Literacy Trust.

Literacy Hive Likes:

Over the last eight years, the Reflecting Realities Survey has played a major role in highlighting the importance of providing all young readers with access to a range of texts and stories that reflect their lives and experiences.