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School events and opportunities
We offer lots of fully-funded events and resources that help learning professionals and schools throughout Scotland engage with our programmes.
To keep up to date with our news, opportunities and resources for learning professionals, sign up to our schools newsletter or contact us at [email protected](this link will open in a new window).
You can also find information on all of our learning programmes and how they can support you and your learners in our schools guide(this link will open in a new window).
Ongoing opportunities and support
Reading Schools
Bring the magic of books and reading to your school – become a Reading School this year! The program provides practical resources, friendly support and a variety of accreditation levels designed to help you succeed and celebrate reading for pleasure in your school.
Explore our resources and apply now at readingschools.scot
Live Literature
Through Live Literature part–funded sessions we contribute over half the fees to run in-person and remote author sessions and events.
Apply for Live Literature funding
Stock up on Read Write Count resources
Equip your classroom with free Tangrams, Beastie Battle cards and Shape Shuffle cards from previous Read Write Count Bags.
Please note shipping is not included.
Awards, support and funding
Reading Schools Fund
Applications are currently open for Reading Schools Fund 2024/25.
We are looking to fund projects and purchases that will help your school achieve Reading School accreditation. Grants of up to £500 are available to purchase:
Books or reading materials for your school Furnishings for reading spaces This competitive Fund aims to allocate awards to 40 successful applications.
The Reading Schools Fund is open to all state funded schools and grant-aided specialist provisions in Scotland that are working towards Reading School accreditation. In order to be eligible for funding you must have a submitted and approved action plan, and be actively working towards Reading School accreditation at Core, Silver or Gold level.
Deadline: 1 November 2024.
Reading Champion Awards (Deadline: 29 November)
Our new Reading Champion Awards want to recognise the reading role models out there whose fantastic work inspires others to read for pleasure.
Is there someone you know who inspires children and teens to get into reading? If so, please nominate them for our brand-new Reading Champion Awards, in association with Browns Books, and they could win £250 worth of new books.
Deadline: Friday 29 November
October
11 October: Deadline for Maths Week Scotland Math Tales Contest
Submit entries to the Math Tales Contest, in partnership with Maths Week Scotland. This exciting story-writing competition invites young authors in classes P1-7 to create a tale incorporating some maths elements.
Fantastic prizes await the winners in two categories: P1 - P3 and P4 - P7. While we provide guide templates to get you started, we encourage you to unleash your learners’ creativity! Find out how to take part on the Maths Week Scotland template.
30 October: Book Discovery – Primary – Wordless Picturebooks
Join the Scottish Book Trust team for an interactive forum sharing book recommendations for children. This session will focus on wordless picturebooks.
We will talk about getting the most out of wordless picturebooks that are available to suit your readers, creating a buzz around reading materials, and, most importantly, some great book recommendations to engage your young readers so that all of the children you work with can discover the joy of reading!
Date: Wednesday 30 October, 4–5pm.
Where: Microsoft Teams
Register for Book Discovery – Primary – Wordless Picturebooks
31 October: Authors Live with Dapo Adeola
Get your pencils at the ready for this episode of Authors Live with award-winning illustrator Dapo Adeola!
Dapo Adeola, co-creator of the award-winning Look Up!, will be giving the Authors Live audience a masterclass in illustration. We'll learn more about how Dapo created everyone's favourite character, Rocket, and pick up some tips for bringing our own character drawings to life.
Date: Thursday 31 October
Time: 11–11.40am
Audience: P2–7
November
6 November: Reading Schools Drop-In (special invitation to GME settings)
This session is open to all schools but with a special invitation to those working in GME settings.
Date: Wednesday 6 November, 4.30–5.30pm.
Where: Microsoft Teams
7 November: Supporting STEM learning with Read Write Count and RAiSE
Join us to find out how you can support STEM learning through Read Write Count with the First Minister and RAiSE. Each November through the Read Write Count with the First Minister campaign, all Primary 2 and 3 children will receive a free bag with books, counting games and writing materials. Read Write Count aims to build parents' confidence, and encourage families to include easy and fun reading, writing and counting activities in their everyday lives.
Date: Thursday 7 November, 4–4.45pm.
Where: Microsoft Teams
Register for Supporting STEM learning with Read Write Count and RAiSE
18–24 November: Book Week Scotland
Book Week Scotland is an annual celebration of books and reading that takes place across the country. Book Week Scotland 2024 will take place on 18–24 November, supported by Creative Scotland and SLIC.
18–22 November: Scottish Friendly Children's Book Tour with Sophy Henn (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Midlothian or West Lothian)
Sophy will take your pupils on a journey through Happy Hills to meet the friendly and not-so-friendly residents, discovering lots of characters along the way. Have pencils at the ready as you will have the chance to draw along with Sophy and hear her read from her latest book. There will be a Q&A too!
When: 18–22 November 2024
Where: Your primary school (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Midlothian or West Lothian)
Audience: P1–4
Deadline to apply: 12 noon, Friday 7 June 2024
Apply for Scottish Friendly Children's Book Tour with Sophy Henn
20 November: Book Discovery – Primary – Winter Reads
Join Scottish Book Trust for this Book Discovery session to explore a range of contemporary texts you could use on the theme of Winter Reads in your primary school.
Date: Wednesday 20 November, 4–5pm
Where: Microsoft Teams
19 November: Authors Live with Axel Scheffler
Join internationally acclaimed illustrator Axel Scheffler for this special episode of Authors Live!
Axel Scheffler, beloved and highly celebrated illustrator of The Gruffalo, Zog, The Highway Rat and many more family favourites, will be joining us on Authors Live to mark 25 years of The Gruffalo. You will learn how Axel created some of children's literature's best-loved characters and pick up some drawing tips of your own. This is sure to be an incredibly special event, not to be missed – the perfect way to mark Book Week Scotland.
Date: Tuesday 19 November
Time: 11–11.40am
Audience: P1–3
25 November: Authors Live with Elle McNicoll release
Bestselling author Elle McNicoll joins us on Authors Live to share her YA debut, Some Like it Cold!
Award-winning Scottish author Elle McNicoll will be joining us on Authors Live to discuss her life as a writer and the importance of championing neurodiverse representation. This event is being pre-recorded during Book Week Scotland and will be available to watch on demand from the following week. Register to be the first to receive the link to watch.
Date: Released week beginning 25 November
Audience: P7–S3
29 November: Deadline for Reading Champion Awards
Our new Reading Champion Awards want to recognise the reading role models out there whose fantastic work inspires others to read for pleasure.
Is there someone you know who inspires children and teens to get into reading? If so, please nominate them for our brand-new Reading Champion Awards, in association with Browns Books, and they could win £250 worth of new books.
Deadline: Friday 29 November