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A new children’s book illustrations prize to keep an eye out for.
This prize, administered by the Society of Authors and generously funded by Nicholas Allan, author of The Queen's Knickers, is awarded to an outstanding children's original illustrated book for ages 0-7.
It will recognise books that strike a quirky, new note and grab the attention of a child, whether this be in the form of curiosity, amusement, horror or excitement.
Entry to the 2019 Queen's Knickers Award is now open and closes 15 November.
More details here.
The winner of the 2019 CLiPPA (Centre for Literacy in Primary Poetry Award) is Steven Camden for his debut collection Everything All At Once ( Macmillan Children’s Books). The announcement of the winner took place at the Poetry Show on Lyttleton Stage at the National Theatre, London on 3 July 2019. Eloise Greenfield was highly commended for her collection Thinker: My Puppy Poet and Me (Tiny Owl) .
The CLiPPA is now in its 17th year and is the only award for published poetry for children in the UK.
The BBC is offering a paid position on the BBC News Journalism Trainee Scheme for winners of these student journalist awards. There are different categories, depending on strengths, so if your students are interested in accurate, impartial, trustworthiness news as a career, they have until 31st August to submit their work here
In the Branford Boase Award’s 20th anniversary year Muhammad Khan and his editor Lucy Pearse have won for Khan’s debut novel I Am Thunder.
Branford Boase Winners release 2019 (1)
PDF file, 156 kB (Requires Adobe Reader)
School Librarian
The Hemel Hempstead School
Grade: H6 – H7 (Depending on Experience)
Salary £22,462 - £26,999 (£18,653 - £22,420 Actual Pro-Rata)
Full Time 37 Hours per Week / Term Time Only
Closing date: Friday 5th July 2019, 12 noon
Interview date: TBC
We are seeking to appoint an experienced, enthusiastic and highly efficient School Librarian with substantial relevant experience, ideas and commitment, to join this popular school.
The successful candidate will lead, develop and manage the facilities in our School Library which is used by the whole school community. They will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, appropriate IT skills and be able to work confidently with both students and staff.
The Hemel Hempstead School is a popular over-subscribed school sited in pleasant grounds in the village of Boxmoor close to national rail and road links to London. An Ofsted inspection in May 2016 judged that the school continues to be good, stating: 'The school's values of 'Responsibility, Respect and Relationships' are at the heart of the atmosphere at The Hemel Hempstead School. You and your team prepare pupils to be courteous, considerate and capable young people, ready for the adult world'. There are 186 students in each of Years 7 – 11 and a thriving Sixth Form of more than 230 taking a range of A Level and BTEC qualifications. This year we will expand to 210 students in Year 7.
Further details, including application forms, are available on our website at https://www.teachinherts.com/find-a-job/view,school-librarian_55143.htm
Please send completed forms to Mrs J Avey, School Business Manager, The Hemel Hempstead School, Heath Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Herts HP1 1TX. Tel: 01442 390100, email: j.avey[at]hemelschool.com by the closing date.
You may also apply online at www.teachinherts.com
Please note, if you have not been contacted within one week of the closing date you have not been shortlisted for interview.
The Hemel Hempstead School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. All post holders are subject to a satisfactory DBS enhanced disclosure.
Job Description & Person Specification are available on the website:
https://www.teachinherts.com/find-a-job/view,school-librarian_55143.htm
Ros Harding from The King's School Chester has been awarded the honour of the School Librarian of the Year 2019. YA Book Prize winner Sara Barnard presented Ros Harding with her award at a special ceremony at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel London Kensington on 27 June 2019.
Head Librarian and Archivist at The King's School Chester (an independent selective school for ages 3-18), Ros Harding contributes in many ways to the life of the school and to the wellbeing of its students and staff. She was described variously as "caring, for people but also for the library itself", "inspiring curiosity" and a "tour de force". As well as establishing a School Book Award, Ros is an excellent ambassador of research skills and ensures all aspects of the school to have a place within the library. She empowers pupils and gives outstanding support and pastoral care.
Sue Bastone, Chair of the SLA School Librarian of the Year Selection Committee, said:
"It was a real honour to visit the three exceptional librarians on this year's Honour List and it was incredibly difficult for the judges to pick a winner. Ros's professionalism and contribution to teaching and learning make her a highly valued equal among her teaching colleagues. Her caring and inclusive nature is appreciated by students, staff and parents, many of whom describe her as inspiring, not least in the way she makes things happen to the benefit of all who come into contact with her, from junior school pupils to the Senior Leadership Team."
Noting that the award is a unique and wonderful celebration of the work of school librarians, Alison Tarrant, Chief Executive of the School Library Association, said:
"The Honour List this year are fantastic examples of the impact that effective school libraries can have, as shown by the affection and respect with which pupils and teaching staff talk about them. All three have all had a positive influence on the learning that goes on within their schools, both formally and informally. Ros has 'redefined the role' according to her nominee and all prove that the stereotype of a school librarian who sits behind a desk and stamps books is just that – a stereotype. All the Honour List should be incredibly proud of their contribution to ensuring all their pupils have a fully rounded education."
Two other exciting and innovative librarians were shortlisted for the Award: Helen Cleaves (Librarian/Learning Resources Manager at Kingston Grammar School) and Chantal Kelleher (Learning Resource Centre Manager at Herne Bay High School).
Read the full press release:
PDF file, 244 kB (Requires Adobe Reader)
Echo Schools Awards in association with Excell Supply celebrates schools, teachers, pupils & support staff from across Merseyside. The winner of the School Support Staff of the Year is Jacque Hale, the school librarian from St Hilda’s School. Huge congratulations to Jacque in this vital role.
BookTrust is excited to offer secondary schools the chance to win a visit from Kwame Alexander (The Crossover), and a copy of this brilliant verse novel for every student, when they sign up to Bookbuzz.
Encouraging Year 7 and 8 students to spend more time reading for pleasure, BookTrust’s Bookbuzz is a reading programme gets students excited about reading. It supports them in developing their identity as a reader and discovering the value of book ownership. Bookbuzz gives every student the chance to choose a book to keep from a range of titles and supports teachers and librarians with practical resources to build a buzz about reading in their school.
This exciting prize draw will give one lucky school the chance to enhance their students’ Bookbuzz experience and find out more about The Crossover straight from the author. Kwame Alexander is an innovative and incredibly exciting author of many novels and poems, often experimenting with formats and genres. Students will get the chance to ask Kwame about his writing, the inspiration behind his stories and share in his love for books!
As well as The Crossover by Kwame Alexander, Bookbuzz offers a range of seventeen books of a variety of genres and interests, with everything from spooky thrillers to interesting non-fiction about the world’s animals.
‘Giving students a free book, at the beginning of their first year in a new school, is a wonderful way to start.’Claire Friedli, Librarian, Carterton Community College
To be in with a chance of winning this great prize, schools must sign up to Bookbuzz for £3 per student by Thursday 4 July 2019.
Visit booktrust.org.uk/bookbuzz to find out more!
Terms and conditions apply.
Reminder about an SLA member free trial to Q-files with access to a wealth of info for your pupils.
The NLT have pulled together research into the impact author visits have on children and young people’s reading and writing enjoyment, behaviours and attitudes.
Far more children read above their expected level, enjoy reading more and have increased confidence after an author visit.
Plus SAS personnel turned author Andy McNab recounts his love for reading.
This month's Development and Discussion blog comes from Alison David, Consumer Insight Director at Egmont Publishing. It's a fantastic study into the power of storytime. And I would argue that we need to continue doing this: what you read changes; how you discuss it changes; but it is valuable, regardless of whether it's 'The Tiger that Came to Tea' or 'The Odyssey'. This post helps show the full extent of the positive impacts.
What happened when storytime was introduced in Key Stage 2?
Through extensive research at Egmont we know that reading to children, for fun, is the most powerful agent in encouraging independent reading. However, most parents stop reading to their children at around the age of 8, believing that once their child can read, he or she will choose to read for pleasure. Only:
32% of 0-13s are read to daily by their parents
29% of 0-13s read daily for pleasure
19% of 8-10s are read to daily by their parents
By contrast, when 8-13s are read to by their parents less than weekly, 29% also read independently for pleasure daily; when 8-13s are read to by their parents on a daily basis, 76% also read independently for pleasure daily.[1]
Reading for Pleasure is a statutory requirement on the curriculum
The Department for Education's 2015 report, Reading: the next steps, states that nothing is more important in education than ensuring every child can read well, and the way to do this is to instil a passion for reading for pleasure.
"Pupils should be taught to …develop positive attitudes to reading and understanding of what they read by…listening to and discussing a wide range of fiction, poetry, plays, non-fiction and reference books or textbooks"
Department for Education English programmes of study: Key Stages 1 and 2. National Curriculum in England. September 2013. Statutory requirement
The use of language is interesting – ‘taught’, ‘discussing’. There is an implicit expectation that children should have an opinion and will be expected to share it. It naturally leads to testing their understanding and comprehension, and it means that children are very likely to view reading as a lesson and not a pleasure. It also reveals there is a belief that reading for pleasure is a subject that can be taught. However, pleasure is an outcome. It cannot be learned, though it can be shared.
Case study St Joseph’s school, Goldenhill, Stoke on Trent
Egmont’s most recent research has a simple idea behind it: many children are not being read to at home, so what happens to their attitudes and motivations to read for themselves if their teachers read daily to them, just for fun, with no testing and no formal learning agenda? Egmont worked with KS 2 to investigate this.
The project findings:
Across KS 2 over a 5-month period, reading comprehension improved dramatically:
Year 3 improved by an average of 15 months
Year 4 improved by an average of 9 months
Year 5 by an average of 10 months
Year 6 by an average of 7 months
The school is of mixed ability so the averages include some already capable readers who might not be expected to improve so much. There are some truly astonishing individual improvements within those 4 years:
A boy in Year 3 improved by 2 years and 8 months
A girl in Year 4 improved by 2 years and 1 month
A girl in Year 5 improved by 1 year and 7 months
A boy in Year 6 improved by 1 year
The project was galvanising and joyful. Behaviour and attainment changed.
It was a great stress release for children and teachers, and children were much more keen to read
Teachers found it impossible to make time to read daily due to the already heavy demands of the curriculum. They managed 3-4 days a week on average over the autumn term 2018
It seems that the more reading for pleasure is uncoupled from lessons, the greater the impact it has on attainment. It is an easy and low-cost solution to the challenge to get children reading. Being read to, just for pleasure, should be an intrinsic part of the school day, as normal, unquestionable and as unchangeable as lunch break.
At Egmont we believe it is every child’s right to be read to every day.
Alison David
Consumer Insight Director, Egmont Publishing
To read the findings from the research at St Josephs in more detail, click here: https://www.egmont.co.uk/stories-and-choices-research/
The third of our profiles of the three exciting and innovative librarians who have made it onto the Honour List for the SLA School Librarian of the Year Award 2019. The Award Ceremony takes place in London on Thursday.
Helen Cleaves is Librarian/Learning Resources Manager at Kingston Grammar School where she has an impact which extends well beyond the library doors. From welcoming new staff with a breakfast croissant and liaising closely with pastoral staff through to promoting academic rigour at Head of Department meetings, Helen is utterly committed to ensuring that the library is welcoming, relevant and purposeful.
Read her full profile and a revealing Q&A: https://www.sla.org.uk/helen-cleaves.php
"Nothing beats the conversation with a student who has just finished a book that they loved, and so discovered a new favourite author to explore further."
The inaugural £1,000 STEAM Children’s Book Prize has been won by author Christopher Edge for The Infinite Lives of Maisie Day.
Edge's novel is a mystery about a girl who wakes up on her birthday to an unsettling, all-consuming blackness. Maisie must work with the laws of the universe to try and set her world right.
Roman Belyaev won the best information book award for How Does a Lighthouse Work? How the Borks Became by Jonathan Emmet and Elys Dolan was named the best early years book.
White Rabbit Red Wolf by Tom Pollock won the YA prize and Battle of the Beetles by M G Leonard was the winner of the ‘Your Choice Award’, which is voted for by school pupils.
The prize was set up by UCLan Publishing to celebrate children’s books that highlight the importance of science, technology, engineering, arts and maths.
Introducing the second of our profiles of the three exciting and innovative librarians who have made it onto the Honour List for the SLA School Librarian of the Year Award 2019.
Chantal Kelleher is the LRC Manager at Herne Bay High School, a popular, oversubscribed school that prides itself on its culture of high expectations and values. The school is committed to ensuring that every child is given the opportunity to reach their full academic potential whilst supporting them to develop as mature, confident and rounded individuals ready to flourish in a rapidly developing world.
Read her full profile and a revealing Q&A: https://www.sla.org.uk/chantal-kelleher.php
"It is a pleasure to promote informal learning in a supportive environment. Successfully matching a student to a book they really enjoy, especially if they would not previously have considered themselves a reader, is a delight that never palls."
The CKG winners have been revealed. Certificates for the Shadowers’ awards and medals for the most prestigious children’s book prizes were presented in a ceremony today.
Headington School, Oxford
Graduate Boarding Assistant - Library, fixed term, term time (residential)
Start date: September 2019 Salary: competitive
Headington is a vibrant and welcoming school set in 23 acres on the outskirts of Oxford. The School is renowned for its commitment to academic excellence, pastoral support and an impressive range of extra-curricular opportunities.
We are seeking a term-time only Library Graduate Assistant who has a passion for children's literature and enjoys working with young people and can assist in the boarding houses. This position may suit someone who is considering a career in Librarianship or teaching and has an interest in boarding. You will live and work at the School for the academic year September 2019 – July 2020.
We are seeking confident, resilient, well-rounded personalities with good flexibility to be able to adapt to changing circumstances to fulfil the role which will comprise of mainly librarian and some boarding duties.
If you are interested in applying for this position please refer to our website: www.headington.org for a job specification and application form.
Please send your completed application form and covering letter to recruitment[at]headington.org
Closing Date for applications: 6 July 2019
Applicants must be able to provide evidence of having the right to live and work in the UK and be prepared to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service check.
Headington School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Applicants must undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and DBS and barred lists checks. The School expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Headington School is an equal opportunities employer.
This article looks at the practice of reading aloud, and the impact it can have: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/lit.12141
15,000 free books to be given away to UK schools to get children excited about space
A new school project will encourage thousands of British students to explore the Universe, thanks to freely available teaching resources. Curved House Kids have launched a new primary education programme, in partnership with the Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC). The Deep Space Diary programme introduces KS2/P5-7 students to astronomy, physics, engineering and space through the story of the James Webb Space Telescope. With the support of the STFC, 15,000 free books will be available to schools across the UK with priority given to those in disadvantaged areas or with high numbers of pupil premium.
Further details here.
PDF file, 91 kB (Requires Adobe Reader)
Introducing the first of our profiles of the three exciting and innovative librarians who have made it onto the Honour List for the SLA School Librarian of the Year Award 2019.
Ros Harding, Head Librarian and Archivist at The King's School Chester, contributes in many ways to the life of the school and to the wellbeing of its students and staff. She was described variously as "caring, for people but also for the library itself", "inspiring curiosity" and a "tour de force". As well as establishing a School Book Award, Ros is an excellent ambassador of research skills and ensures all aspects of the school to have a place within the library. She empowers pupils and gives outstanding support and pastoral care.
Read her full profile and a revealing Q&A: https://www.sla.org.uk/ros-harding.php
"I love seeing pupils develop from a shy Year 7 into a successful and confident young adult."
Highgate School
Library Assistant
Dates: Closing date is midday on Sunday 23rd June 2019 but applications will be considered on receipt.
Salary: Circa £8,386 per annum (full time equivalent £28,363)
Location: Highgate, North London
Contract type: Part time (15hrs per week), term time only Monday-Friday 11.15am-2.15pm
The role: To support the Senior School Librarian and the Deputy Librarian in the daily operations during peak hours of the Senior School Library and thereby to provide a high quality, efficient library service for the pupils and staff of Highgate School; in doing so, to support the Library and School Development Plan objectives. An interest in supporting literacy and learning for pupils from 11-18 is essential, as well as working to the highest professional standards.
To apply: For further information and an application form, please visit our website: http://www.highgateschool.org.uk/about/vacancies
HIGHGATE SCHOOL
Highgate School was established in 1565 by a Royal Charter of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the First. Sir Roger Cholmeley, our Founder, was granted Letters Patent to found 'a grammar School…for good education and instruction'. Today Highgate is a flourishing coeducational independent School which includes the Senior School for pupils aged 11-18; the Junior School for pupils aged 7-11 and the Pre-Preparatory School for pupils aged 3-7. There are currently in the region of 1,850 pupils at Highgate and the School employs approximately 550 full-time or part-time teaching and support staff.
The School is situated in one of the most attractive and sought after areas of North London, only a short journey from Central London and adjacent to Hampstead Heath. The hilltop site in Highgate Village is the historic site of the Senior School. A few hundred yards along Hampstead Lane in Bishopswood Road lie the Junior and Pre-Preparatory Schools and the extensive playing fields, adjacent to the open spaces of Kenwood and Hampstead Heath. The Northern Line underground station is a short walk away and it is four miles to Central London.
Working at Highgate offers the opportunity to be part of a vibrant and welcoming community, committed to academic excellence and the highest standards of pastoral care for its pupils. The Governors consider the development of excellence in the education offered to the pupils to be the underlying purpose of activities undertaken by all staff.
Highgate is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to this post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Highgate Library Assistant Job Description
Word document, 54 kB (Requires Microsoft Word 2007 or later)
12.6.19 To celebrate the publication of Katherine Rundell's Good Thieves tomorrow Bloomsbury have generously offered a giveaway for SLA members. Three members can win signed copies of Good Thieves and Katherine's other forthcoming title, Why You Should Read Children's Books along with related goodies by emailing childrenspublicity[at]bloomsbury.
New research from CLPE supports Children’s Laureate Lauren Child’s call for children to be allowed time to think and develop ideas
The CLPE’s new Power of Pictures research finds that giving children the opportunity to explore their creativity through art and supporting them to learn through picturebooks, has a direct and positive impact on children’s literacy.
Research backing up what many consider important for children.
CLPE research supports Children
PDF file, 400 kB (Requires Adobe Reader)
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The Cheltenham Literature Festival announces its schools’ programme which is open for bookings from 11th June. Packed with events to appeal to both primary and secondary schools, this will be very popular so get in fast!
· The 2019 Festival will run from 3 – 14 October
· Early names will be announced on 29 June and the full programme on 16 August
· Follow @cheltlitfest on Twitter and #cheltlitfest for further updates
· Sign up for e-news alerts at www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature
More details:
PDF file, 423 kB (Requires Adobe Reader)
Betjeman Poetry Prize 2019 is now open for submissions until 31st July. This annual creative writing competition inspires children and young people aged 10 – 13 to read, write and perform poetry. The winning young poet receives £500 and the winning poet’s school receives £5000.
Noticias em eLiteracias