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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 schools@scottishbooktrust.com(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).
Awards
Young Scots Writer o the Year Award 2024
Are you someone with stories to share? Or a teacher working with young writers we should know about? We're looking for our next Scots writer of the year.
Our winner will receive their award and a £100 book token at a special ceremony (The Scots Language Awards) in September (date TBC). They'll have the chance to receive their prize on stage and either read their work or have it read for them – but only if they want to!
Deadline: 19 June, noon
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
Developing and Sustaining Reading for Pleasure course endorsed by Education Scotland
A national online programme for primary teachers aiming to enhance their professional knowledge and practice of reading for pleasure pedagogies to support children to become frequent regular readers. This course is run by Scottish Book Trust and is endorsed by Education Scotland.
Participants will learn the essential pedagogical practices associated with developing and sustaining a reading for pleasure culture in the primary setting. They will gain the skills, knowledge and expertise to lead on the enactment of this, tailored to the needs of the pupils in their own unique context.
Course duration: September 2024 until June 2025
Cost: introductory offer of £150.00 for the first year of running
Deadline to apply: Friday 31 May
Learn more and apply to Developing and Sustaining Reading for Pleasure course
April
17 April: Creating a book trailer with Into Film
Join Scottish Book Trust and Into Film for an inspiring session on how to create a book trailer!
Date: Wednesday 17 April
Time: 4:30–5:30pm
24 April: Reading Schools Drop-in
Come along to one of our Reading Schools drop in sessions for the opportunity to talk to the Scottish Book Trust team about your Reading Schools accreditation application.
Date: Wednesday 24 April
Time: 4:30–5:30pm
25 April: Reading Schools - Celebrating your reading achievements
Join our webinar focusing on practical and inspiring ways to celebrate your reading achievements, which can be easily integrated in your setting, whether that be holding regular reading for pleasure assemblies; making announcements through local and social media; or celebrating reading with an author event.
Date: Thursday 25 April, 4.30–5.30pm Platform: Microsoft Teams
{Register for Reading Schools - Celebrating your reading achievements}(https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/reading-schools-celebrating-your-reading-achievements-tickets-860696013947?aff=oddtdtcreator)
26 April: Shared practice event: sensory stories (Glasgow) SOLD OUT
Tailored for teachers and support staff working directly with children and young people with additional support needs, this event is also perfect for educators in mainstream settings eager to enhance their teaching toolkit.
Immerse yourself in a series of presentations from professionals who have successfully integrated sensory storytelling into their practice. Explore the methology behind their methods as they share practical tips, valuable resources, and real-life experiences. Delve into diverse perspectives from incorporating Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) in sensory storytelling to the art of creating and using sensory stories.
Don't miss this chance to elevate your professional development and contribute to the enriching world of sensory stories! Reserve your spot now for an event that promises inspiration, practical takeaways and collaborative learning.
Date: 26 April, 3–7pm Location: Mercure Glasgow City Hotel
Apply for sensory stories shared practice event
Please note this event is now sold out.
May
2 May: Supporting Author Engagement with Scottish Book Trust (East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire)
Join us for this online session to discover how to support author engagement through our Scottish Book Trust programmes!
Date: Thursday 2 May
Time: 4–5pm
Platform: Microsoft Teams
Register for Supporting Author Engagement with Scottish Book Trust
7 May: Authors Live with M.G. Leonard
Grab your binoculars and join author M.G. Leonard for an amazing event on her bird-tastic new series, The Twitchers!
Date: Thursday 9 May
Time: 11–11.40am
Audience: P4–7
16 May: Book Discovery for primary schools - Non-Fiction
Come and discover inspiring texts for children, to introduce in your setting!
Date: Thursday 16 April
Time: 4:30–5:30pm
Platform: Microsoft Teams
Register for Book Discovery for primary schools - Non-Fiction
14 May: RAiSE session on STEM and Read Write Count books 2023/2024 (Scottish Borders)
During this session, we will explore the 2023/2024 Read Write Count books provided by the Scottish Book Trust along with STEM activities that complement the story. Hosted by Pauline Bird and Antonia Clark from the Scottish Book Trust and Alison Heaton PSDO
Where: Inspire Building Tweedbank
When: 14 May 4–5.30pm
Audience: School staff in Scottish Borders
Book through Business world or contact Alison Heaton for a place at gw09heatonalison@glowmail.org.uk
29 May: Reading Schools Drop-in
Come along to one of our Reading Schools drop in sessions for the opportunity to talk to the Scottish Book Trust team about your Reading Schools accreditation application.
Date: Thursday 29 May
Time: 4:30–5:30pm
June
5 June: Shared practice event: Supporting teens to read for pleasure – SOLD OUT
In this session, Charlotte Webber – a researcher at the University of Edinburgh and Scottish Book Trust – will share insights from the project and practical tips based on the things teens said would help them feel more motivated to read for pleasure. There will also be an opportunity to share insights from your own practice, and to input into the development of a resource which will support education professionals to help all teens discover a love of reading.
Date: Wednesday 5 June
Time: 4:30–5:30pm
Platform: Microsoft Teams
Register for Shared practice event: Supporting teens to read for pleasure
Please note this event is now sold out.
4 June: Scottish Friendly Children's Book Tour: Rashmi Sirdeshpande (virtual event)
The Scottish Friendly Children’s Book Tour is delighted to host award-winning children's author Rashmi Sirdeshpande(this link will open in a new window), author of We’ve Got This! Six Steps to Build Your Empathy Superpower – an essential handbook for young readers offering six simple steps to harness empathy as a superpower that can positively impact their lives and the world, written in partnership with EmpathyLab(this link will open in a new window).
Rashmi will talk about the importance of empathy, understanding our emotions and show us how to turn the transformative power of empathy into action, and answer questions from schools in a moderated Q&A. The event will last approximately 45 minutes.
Date: Tuesday 4 June 2024
Time: 11–11.45am
Platform: Microsoft Teams
Audience: Age 7–12
Deadline to register: 12 noon, Friday 31 May
10–14 June: Scottish Friendly Children's Book Tour with Nadia Shireen (Clackmannanshire, Fife, Perth and Kinross, Stirling)
Calling all fans of the wildly popular Grimwood series! This is your chance to host award-winning author and illustrator Nadia Shireen at your school.
Nadia will tell us about her journey to becoming an author and illustrator, delight your pupils with a reading from her latest book, Grimwood: Party Animals, and lead a super-fun draw-along where you learn to sketch some of her adorable woodland animal characters and even create your own Grimwood characters. Pupils will have the chance to ask Nadia all their burning questions about writing, drawing, and anything else they might be curious about!
When: 10–14 June 2024
Where: Your primary school (Clackmannanshire, Fife, Perth and Kinross, Stirling)
Cost: Fully funded (no cost to school)
Audience: P3–5. Audiences of any size will be considered.
Deadline to apply: Friday 26 April
{Register for the Scottish Friendly Children's Book Tour with Nadia Shireen}(https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/writing-and-authors/scottish-friendly-childrens-book-tour/tour-nadia-shireen)
September–December
9–13 September: Scottish Friendly Children's Book Tour with Danielle Jawando (East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire, West Dunbartonshire and Glasgow)
Apply now to host a free visit from multi-award-winning author
When: 9–13 September 2024
Where: Your secondary school (East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire, West Dunbartonshire or Glasgow)
Audience: S2–6. Approx. 40 pupils for workshop, or 100+ pupils for talk.
Deadline to apply: 12 noon, Friday 31 May 2024
Apply now Danielle Jawando at your secondary school in East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire, West Dunbartonshire or Glasgow.
Apply for Scottish Friendly Children's Book Tour with Danielle Jawando