Literacy is at the heart of the school curriculum, yet research by the Centre for Policy Studies has shown that, particularly in inner-city London schools, 40% of pupils leave primary school with a reading age of a 6-9 year old, 20% have special educational needs such as dyslexia, and 20% leave secondary school without being able to read or write with confidence. Many schools also have high numbers of ESOL pupils, for whom there is a particular need for fresh approaches to literacy teaching.

Picture It offers a fresh approach to literacy teaching that supports cross-curricular learning. It is a valuable opportunity for children to learn new creative and visual communication skills, and addresses inequality in the classroom, supporting visual learners and boosting confidence and achievement of more academically challenged pupils or those who speak English as a second language. Teachers develop their own skills and confidence, and can use learning from the project in future teaching.