Authors into Schools – Cost v Benefit

How do I decide which authors to invite into our school to support our class learning, topics and curriculum?
Where can I get the best recommendations for author visits?
Will an author session be beneficial just because we like the author’s book?
How do we measure the benefit of our expenditure?

These are all questions teachers have raised at some point when I have approached schools about running KS2 literacy or science workshops and it can be a difficult one to answer.

Schools budgets are perpetually being squeezed, expenditure is always subject to a cost benefit analysis and there are so many options for author visits into schools.

So why should authors welcome these questions?

It’s a perfect opportunity for us to talk about learning objectives and outcomes and show schools that our sessions support curriculum learning.
It’s where authors can showcase endorsements and feedback to demonstrate what their sessions have delivered to other settings.
It’s an opportunity for authors to show an understanding of what schools are trying to achieve and how their session will manage differing learning styles.
It’s a chance for authors to provide follow on material to enhance the benefit of their session.
I can’t imagine a better scenario than delivering benefit to a school, whilst talking about my stories.

Most authors are members of a writing/industry/event organisation and should be happy to talk about why they are part of it and what it can deliver to schools.

As an example, I am a member of the registered charity, National Association for Writers in Education, which promotes creative writing as both a distinct discipline and an essential element in education.

Their mission is ‘to advocate for Creative Writing: enhancing knowledge and understanding of the subject, supporting writers and good practice in teaching and facilitation in all settings.’

There are many other organisations which support authors in education and I would encourage teachers to ask them about this when considering a school visit.

I am always happy to discuss the value I can bring to schools – after all it should be why I’m there.

Here are brief details of what I can bring to your school or setting:

Sue Palmer – Virtual KS2 Science and Literacy Workshops

Suitable for Years 3, 4, 5, 6

Helping teachers and parents to inspire children to be creative thinkers, wide readers and boundless writers.

The May’s Moon trilogy follows 13-year-old Michael May in his quest to become the first child astronaut. It’s a story about following dreams and what happens when those dreams hurtle towards reality.

Although fiction, the more I researched about our journeys into space, the more fascinated I became in space exploration. That’s why these stories include a substantial amount of space and science fact.

This led to me developing KS2 workshops, which combine science and space education with my own writing process.

I’ve delivered these cross-curricular workshops to schools, libraries, bookshops and at festivals. I’ve worked with primary schools on the Tim Peake Principia Mission project, with a local Space Academy and like to meet astronauts whenever possible.

So, if you’re looking to external sources to enrich your literacy or science curriculum teaching, why not look at one of my cross-curricular workshops?

Workshop benefits for teachers:

Sessions are cross-curricular and interactive.
Workshops are inclusive and cater for a variety of learning needs and styles.
All materials are supplied.
Any pre-reading material is supplied.
Follow up material to enhance learning outcomes is supplied.

Workshop benefits for pupils:

With clear links to the national curriculum, workshop sessions encourage creativity, imagination and a positive learning experience.
Sessions combine a variety of learning methods and styles to suit varying learning needs.
Workshops are designed to increase knowledge, skills and confidence in a fun environment.
Follow up material gives pupils the opportunity to continue practicing skills and acquiring knowledge.