A presentation about the benefits of organising an author visit by the Children's Writers and Illustrators Group of the Society of Authors. For schools, teachers and anyone thinking of organising an author visit!
What's the point of author visits? A presentation by the Children's Writers and Illustrators Group of the Society of Authors.
1. For schools and libraries wondering whether
to organise an author or illustrator visit
Created by the Children’s Writers and Illustrators group of the Society of Authors
2. WE GO TO GREAT LENGTHS
TO INSPIRE READERS…
Mary Hoffman
wears
fetching
headgear
3. OUR SURVEY OF SCHOOLS
In 2013, the Society of Authors carried out a
survey of schools to assess the value of author
visits.
• 154 schools responded: 94 secondaries and 60
primaries
• Reporting 1,471 author visits
This is what they told us…
4. AUTHOR VISITS WORK!
• 99.4% considered author visits to be “high
priority and valuable in encouraging reading
for pleasure and/or creative writing”
• Many used the word “vital”
• 99.5% believed that every type of pupil/school
would benefit
6. RESPONDENTS’ OWN WORDS:
“Encourage reading for pleasure”
“Inspired pupils”
“Increased library use”
“Increased reading diversity”
“Built confidence – especially in reluctant readers”
“Broadening knowledge of literature”
“Develop ownership of books”
7. WE RISK HUGE DANGER
FOR READERS
Daniel Blythe
pleads with a Cyberman
8. VISITS BOOST READING FOR
PLEASURE …
“There is no doubt that author visits can encourage
reading for pleasure.”
“[Meeting an author] engages the pupils in a ‘hands-on’ experience
that can enhance their love of books…”
“The opportunity for pupils to meet and converse with an author plays
a crucial part in the promotion of reading”
10. INSPIRE PUPILS …
“Pupils become enthused not only for reading and writing, but with
one author/illustrator, enthused about illustrating. Following her visit
the teachers developed the book’s themes and with success embedded
it into the yearly planning.”
“Nothing inspires, engages and heartens kids more than meeting a
‘proper’ author.”
11. Year 9 boy after an author visit
“I didn’t know
reading could
be COOL!”
12. IMPROVE LIBRARY USE
…
“Visits have sent [library] borrowing
through the roof.”
“There are often ‘new faces’ seen in the library
after an author event…”
13. …AND BENEFIT RELUCTANT
AND SEN READERS
Many respondents spoke of “a notable growth in confidence”
of SEN pupils:
“Reluctant readers start visiting the library and many start on a
journey which they did not know existed and which lasts a lifetime.”
“Sometimes an understanding of the inspiration behind a story will
motivate a previously reluctant reader to pick up a book.”
15. MORE THAN JUST A
VISIT
Schools used many ways of enabling author
contact:
• Patron of reading/reading champions
• Collaborating with literary festivals
• Collaborating with regional book awards
• Residencies and extended relationships
• Skype sessions
17. DOES OFSTED NOTICE?Only 11% said that Ofsted took notice of author
visits, but when they do they respond very
positively. Of the 11%, most had been inspected
recently, suggesting that Ofsted are taking more
notice.
The Society of Authors is pressing Ofsted on
this; inspectors’ guidelines from Sept 2012 have
increased focus on “schools as reading
environments”.
18. POSITIVE REACTIONS FROM
OFSTED
• Don Valley Academy used as best practice case
study by Ofsted and in Moving English Forward.
Librarian said author visits a factor.
• Private school citation in Good Schools Guide
2012 praised regular schedule of events.
“…The inspectors were highly impressed”
• Lesson including author visit recorded as
“outstanding”.
19. WHAT ABOUT FUNDING?
Authors are paid for work with schools; they are
self-employed and most earn little from writing.
But schools have tight budgets. A day may cost at
least £500 including expenses.
“They are expensive but if the author costs £400 and 400
children have the opportunity to listen […] that’s only £1 a
head”
20. SO, HOW DID SCHOOLS
FUND EVENTS?
• Lateral thinking – overlap with history, PSHE, SEN or
gifted and talented budgets?
• Create a book week/festival – may attract extra funding
• Charge parents a small amount?
• Combine with nearby schools
• Collaborate with bookshops
• Use pupil premium
• Make contacts with publishers – may pay expenses if a new
book is out
22. USING BOOK-SELLING
One way to generate funds for events is to be
creative with book-selling. This benefits
everyone: pupils, schools, authors.
Some authors reduce fees if book-selling is well
promoted. If authors’ books don’t sell, it might
affect future publishing deals, so they’ll try to
help.
23. HOW TO ORGANISE AN EVENT
• Plan 6-12 months ahead – experienced authors get booked
early
• Talk to colleagues who have done this before
• Think carefully about what type of event you want
• And what type of author/illustrator – read their websites
• Invite the author; discuss fee and content
• Plan details carefully; enthuse staff and pupils
• Keep in close contact with the author
• Enjoy the day!
• Encourage follow-up activities with pupils
25. YES, AUTHOR VISITS
WORK!
“…positive impact on all areas of literacy: reading, writing, speaking
and listening.”
“The children were enthralled with the visits and I find it tragic that
schools cannot afford to promote reading in this way.”
26. USEFUL SOURCES OF
INFORMATION (AND AUTHORS…)How to contact authors, listings, resources, rates and
advice on how to run a successful visit, see our
Guidelines for Schools Organising an Author Visit and our
Guide to Author Fees for Talks in Schools:
www.societyofauthors.org/childrens-writers-and-
illustrators-group
Our report on Author Visits in Primary and Secondary
Schools:
www.societyofauthors.org/author-visits-primary-and-
secondary-schools
