Literacy experts say move comes over cost concerns and fears costumes can detract from reading for pleasure

Schools in England are moving away from pupils dressing up as their favourite literary characters for World Book Day, with experts telling MPs they feared the costs of costumes undermined efforts to increase reading for pleasure.

Jonathan Douglas, chief executive of the National Literacy Trust, said schools were aware of the strains that preparing costumes could place on disadvantaged families, telling MPs on the Commons’ education select committee: “Many schools are incredibly sensitive to that, and are taking away the narrative around dressing-up on World Book Day.”