Lauren Child named as new children's laureate

Charlie and Lola author takes over role and hopes to spark 'random acts of imagination' among children

Lauren Child, award-winning author of the best-selling Charlie and Lola books, has been named as the new children’s laureate, saying that she wants children to have the "freedom to dream” without being judged.

Ms Child will be the tenth Waterstones Children’s Laureate, and takes over the post from illustrator Chris Riddell.

She wants to use the position to inspire children to be creative, saying that she hopes to spark "random acts of imagination" among pupils. She also plans to build links between the worlds of literature and other arts, including television, during her two-year term.

“In an increasingly fast-paced world, children need the freedom to dream and imagine; to enjoy reading, drawing and telling their own stories without value judgement or restraint,” she said.

“My books have taken inspiration from many different art forms – from the illustrations of E.H. Shepard through Scandinavian design, dolls' houses and miniatures as well as the films of Woody Allen and Alfred Hitchcock.

19/01/22What are the Covid rules in schools and will they stay open this term?

Face coverings will no longer be compulsory in England's secondary school classrooms from 20 January.

17/01/22Thousands more Kent secondary and special school places needed over the next five years

Thousands more Kent secondary and special school places will be needed over the next five years.

11/01/22Covid: Face mask refusals in some of England's secondary schools spark parents' concern

Secondary school pupils in England returned from the Christmas break this week to new advice – to wear face coverings in lessons and to take lateral flow tests at school before heading into classrooms.

19/10/21Further strikes threatened at universities this term

Students could face more strike action at universities this term after the academics' union opened a ballot over pay, pensions and conditions. University and College Union (UCU) general secretary Jo Grady said the UK's flagship university sector was built on the "exploitation of staff". They had experienced a decade of pension cuts, collapsing pay and insecure contracts, she said. University employers said the prospect of disruption was "disappointing".

01/10/21What changes are being made to GCSEs and A-levels next year?

Department for Education says 2022 will be a ‘transition year’