By Nanette van Mourik, Sustainability Manager
October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, a moment to recognise the many children for whom reading is a challenge. At Sanoma Learning, inclusive learning is at the heart of everything we create. We believe reading is the key that opens the door to all other learning: a child who reads with confidence can follow instructions, explore new subjects and take part in the world around them.
Supporting readers across Sanoma Learning
Across our learning companies, we support children who find reading difficult in many different ways: through the way our materials are designed, through digital tools that adapt to individual needs, and through adapted materials that help every child take part in the same lessons as their classmates.
The first steps in reading matter most. When difficulties are spotted early and students receive the right support at the right moment, many reading problems can be reduced or even prevented. Students with dyslexia, too, benefit from structured, explicit instruction and plenty of practice from the very start. This month, we would therefore like to highlight one example in particular: Lijn 3, Malmberg’s award-winning method for beginning reading.
Lijn 3: award-winning reading instruction
In the Netherlands, students learn to read in grade 3 of primary school (groep 3), which is often also the year in which reading difficulties first become visible. Lijn 3, developed by our Dutch learning company Malmberg, is a method for beginning reading that is used in schools across the country. The second, renewed edition was recently introduced.
On 7 October 2026, Lijn 3 received a bronze Best European Learning Materials Award (BELMA) in the category ‘Early childhood education and first years of primary education’ at the Frankfurt Book Fair. The international jury praised Lijn 3’s clear structure, its strong differentiation options and the way it invites children into the world of reading through rich, engaging themes.
Learning to read, with support for every reader
Lijn 3 places the letter at the centre and teaches reading, spelling and language together. Lessons follow an evidence-based model of direct, explicit instruction, with each new reading goal introduced step by step.
Eight themes about the world around them, from food to nature, give students a reason to read. Stories, informational texts, vocabulary, videos and speaking activities come together in each theme, and diverse characters help students recognise themselves in the stories. At the same time, Lijn 3 recognises that no two students learn to read at the same pace. Those who find a new goal difficult receive extended instruction straight after the lesson and, if needed, additional tailored lessons, while materials at two levels allow stronger readers to go further. This way, students who struggle with reading, including those at risk of dyslexia, get extra time and attention without being singled out.
“The earlier reading difficulties are noticed, the sooner students can get the support they need. With Lijn 3, teachers can follow every child’s progress closely, using structured observation lists and an autumn screening aligned with the Dutch protocol for reading difficulties and dyslexia.” – Herre van Brug, method developer Lijn 3, Malmberg
In Bingel, Malmberg’s online learning platform, a digital library with the Lijn 3 reading books offers extra support to every reader. A read-along function reads each text aloud while the words are highlighted, and students can adjust fonts, text size and contrast to suit their needs.
A strong foundation for lifelong learning
With Lijn 3, Malmberg shows how inclusive learning works in everyday classroom practice: clear, evidence-based instruction combined with differentiation that gives every child a strong foundation in reading. This Dyslexia Awareness Month, we celebrate the teachers who guide children through those first important steps, and every child who discovers that reading opens up new worlds.
Stay tuned for more news about our inclusive learning materials.