# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Brilliant Box of Books can provide literary magic to schools and community settings working with high numbers of disadvantaged children.

# data[].attributes.body
https://readforgood.org/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Read for Good: motivating kids to love reading and helping disadvantaged children.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Read for Good encourages children to love reading. We work in schools and hospitals across the UK to make reading accessible and fun.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
St Matthew's CofE Primary School in Birmingham was the first school to win the OU/UKLA Whole School Reading for Pleasure Award in 2018 (now the Farshore Reading for Pleasure Teacher Awards). The award recognises a school's commitment to embedding a reading for pleasure ethos and celebrates the innovative and creative ways that teachers have found to motivate and enthuse young readers.
As the Deputy Head and now Headteacher at St Matthew's, Sonia Thompson has played a pivotal role in building and sustaining that reading for pleasure culture. In the first of two blogs for Literacy Hive, Sonia talks about her own reading for pleasure journey and what it means to lead a reading school.

A Pedagogy for Reading for Pleasure

I started on my reading for pleasure journey when I was working as an English consultant for Birmingham Local Authority. Birmingham was one of five LAs that took part in the Open University's original Teachers as Readers: Building Communities of Readers research project in 2007-2008 (TaRs). This was a year-long action-research project that followed on from the OU's earlier research that explored teachers' knowledge of children's literature (2006-2007).

Led by one of the TaRs project leaders, I worked with a group of about 10 teachers from local schools, exploring the latest research and helping them to broaden their knowledge of children's books. The aim was to see what impact that would have, not just on teachers' own understanding of the reading process and their pupils' engagement with reading, but also on reading attainment ⁽¹⁾.

The TaRs project was very innovative at the time. Before I started, I had never really considered that there might be distinct ideas that could inform teachers' understanding about how best to enable children to read with agency. As an English consultant, I was supporting schools to teach children how to read but I don't think I had ever spoken to any school about reading for pleasure. Until the TaRs project, I just don't think that, as practitioners, we were aware that there was a reading for pleasure pedagogy.

Backed by Research

I'm very much about evidence-informed practice so having the opportunity to be part of the TaRs research project was hugely important for me. Once you have read the considerable body of evidence around the benefits of children reading for pleasure, it just doesn't make sense that, as schools, we are not focusing on it. When I went back into school and started as the Deputy Head at St Matthew's in 2012, I knew I wanted to use my Senior Leadership role to put all the knowledge that I had gained from the project into practice and drive a reading for pleasure agenda forward.

Reading for Pleasure is a Social Justice Issue

St Matthew's is located in an area of high disadvantage - it is in the 3 rd most deprived neighbourhood of Birmingham and the 5 th most deprived area in the UK. It is not an area where children particularly have books in their homes. There is a body of research that shows the negative impact that this can have on children's engagement with reading, their learning and future life chances. At St Matthew's, we have positioned reading for pleasure at the very heart of the school, as an issue of social justice and a key tool for school improvement, because children who read do well across the curriculum, that's what the research tells us.

That clarity of vision has been central to bringing everybody on board, particularly governors, who are willing to invest in reading for pleasure because they understand the opportunities that it opens up for our children and the positive outcomes that will result.

Raising the Status of Reading for Pleasure: Empowering Staff

I think sometimes people forget that reading for pleasure is specifically mentioned in the National Curriculum. In the Revised Reading Framework document published in July this year, reading for pleasure features even more prominently. As practitioners, it is part of our statutory duty to enable our pupils to read for pleasure and we need to approach this with the same energy and vigour that goes into teaching them how to read.

As a school leader, you have to set the weather around reading for pleasure and make it clear that reading for pleasure is important in your school. Part of that is talking about it on a regular basis to keep it at the forefront of teachers' minds, but you also have to ensure that teachers have the professional knowledge they need and that they feel confident about what they are doing. At St Matthew's, we very deliberately trained teachers on the reading for pleasure pedagogies, working through them as part of our professional development programme, and we revisit these on a regular basis

Raising the Status of Reading for Pleasure: Having a Plan

It is not enough to want to be a school where reading for pleasure is at the heart of the curriculum - you have to plan for it. Like every other curriculum area, reading for pleasure has got to have its own action plan. Good implementation means that you spend time thinking about what it is you want to change and are able to say what success will look like - I think that's really important. If you want to become a reading school, you need to define what that means for your setting. It can't be vague; it can't be fluffy; and it can't just be about creating reading spaces. Anybody can do that. But, if nobody is using your reading space, there's not much point to it. This is about raising the status of reading for pleasure so that it is seen to be as important as maths, as important as phonics. It's about changing hearts and minds so that teachers understand that it's worth spending time on because everyone recognises the importance of being a reader - the advocacy and efficacy it gives us as adults - and everyone agrees that that's what we want for our children.

Raising the Status of Reading for Pleasure: Funding

Raising the status of reading for pleasure also means ensuring you have a budget for it. Reading for pleasure appears as a line on my SIP every year, to the point that the governors ask me, 'Sonia do you never achieve this one?' And I say 'no', because reading for pleasure is an ongoing thing; you can never tick the box and say you've 'done' reading for pleasure. A key part of helping children to engage with reading is providing them with the opportunity to find and choose books they want to read, and we have to have a budget that enables that to happen - whether it's money to buy the latest title in a popular series, develop a new graphic novel section in the library, or renew the subscriptions for the magazines and comics that the children so enjoy. As the Head, you have to take the lead and make this part of the conversation with governors. If you want things to happen, you have to advocate for them. Reading for pleasure is part of the curriculum and, just like any other curriculum area, we need a budget for it - it has to be funded.

Part of Your School's DNA

Leading a reading school is about making reading for pleasure part of your school's DNA. At St Matthew's we do reading for pleasure, everyone needs to know that. Any new teachers that come, anyone who visits, they need to know that reading for pleasure is our culture, that it's part of who we are.

Of course there will be pushbacks and obstacles to overcome, but you have to be steadfast in your mission. It all comes back to the evidence and what it tells us about the benefits of reading for pleasure. It's about keeping those social justice issues at the forefront of your mind. We want all children to have access to good books and the opportunity to develop that agency as a reader. And that shouldn't be left to chance - we can't leave it to chance. Reading for pleasure has got to be part of what we do within our school cultures.

(1) The results of the project were subsequently published in the first TaRs book - Building Communities of Engaged Readers: Reading for Pleasure (Routledge, 2014)

(2) For schools looking to start their own reading for pleasure journey, the OU Reading for Pleasure website is a great resource. It provides summaries of the key findings from the research alongside examples of practice from schools around the country. Schools can also apply to be part of a one-year Reading Schools CPD Programme, or there is a free online course that teachers can follow in their own time.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Sonia Thompson, Headteacher of St Matthew's CofE Primary shares her reading for pleasure journey and her tips on leading a reading school.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Complete Set Secondary contains: Passage Reading Secondary test material, Passage Reading Secondary manual and Passage Reading Secondary record forms (x 15)

# data[].attributes.body
South Korean TV visit to document OU RfP

In June, a South Korean film crew who are making a documentary on literacy levels and reading for pleasure, interviewed Teresa Cremin and visited Sayes Court Primary School to film interactions with staff, parents, children and their Patron of Reading, the author Stephen Davies. Sayes Court won the Farshore, OU and UKLA Whole School RfP Award in 2020 on ‘Developing a Reading Community.’

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Select Your Cookie Preferences

We use cookies and similar tools that are necessary to enable you to make purchases, to enhance your shopping experiences and to provide our services, as detailed in our Cookie Notice. We also use these cookies to understand how customers use our services (for example, by measuring site visits) so we can make improvements.

If you agree, we'll also use cookies to complement your shopping experience across the Amazon stores as described in our Cookie Notice. This includes using first- and third-party cookies, which store or access standard device information such as a unique identifier. Third parties use cookies for their purposes of displaying and measuring personalised ads, generating audience insights, and developing and improving products. Click 'Customise Cookies' to decline these cookies, make more detailed choices, or learn more. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie Preferences, as described in the Cookie Notice. To learn more about how and for what purposes Amazon uses personal information (such as Amazon Store order history), please visit our Privacy Notice.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sound Linkage: An Integrated Programme for Overcoming Reading Difficulties

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Buy Sound Linkage: An Integrated Programme for Overcoming Reading Difficulties 3 by Hatcher, Peter J., Duff, Fiona J., Hulme, Charles (ISBN: 9781118510087) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.novel-software.com/novel-writing-competitions/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Here's a list of the best novel writing competitions for 2021 based on our extensive research.

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.mmu.ac.uk/writingcompetition

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Celebrating Manchester as an international city of writers, finding diverse new voices, and creating opportunities for writer development.

The Manchester Writing Competition offers the UK's biggest literary awards for unpublished work, offered by the country's most successful writing school. The Competition was established in 2008 by Carol Ann Duffy (UK Poet Laureate 2009-19) and has awarded more than £220,000 to writers. Each year two £10,000* prizes are awarded: the Manchester Poetry Prize for best portfolio of poems and the Manchester Fiction Prize for best short story. Designed to encourage and celebrate new writing across the globe, the competition is open internationally to new and established writers.

For news and updates about the Competition join our mailing list or follow us on Twitter @McrWritingSchl.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Manchester Writing Competition offers the UK's biggest literary awards for unpublished work.

# data[].attributes.body
https://dystopianstories.com/writing-competitions-contests/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We run poetry and creative writing competitions throughout the year for Primary and Secondary Schools in the UK and USA. Let's make writing fun!

# data[].attributes.body
https://writershq.co.uk/writing-resources/writing-competitions-and-submission-opportunities/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking "Accept", you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Writing Competitions and Submission Opportunies | Writers' HQ

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking "Accept", you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.

# data[].attributes.body
https://newwriters.org.uk/writing-competitions-list/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
To Hull And Back – A Humorous Short Story Competition

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Writing Competitions Archive - NewWriters.org.uk

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Writing competitions, news and resources to help aspiring authors.

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.neonbooks.org.uk/big-list-writing-competitions/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When it comes to getting your work noticed, there’s little better than winning or being shortlisted for a writing competition… and the odds of that happening aren’t as long as you…

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.youngwriters.co.uk/competitions

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We run poetry and creative writing competitions throughout the year for Primary and Secondary Schools in the UK and USA. Let's make writing fun!

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/company-article/writing-prizes-and-opportunities

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
There are many awards and development schemes available for authors at all stages of their careers. Below is a list of monetary awards, sponsored retreats, mentorships and training opportunities.

Take a look through the opportunities for new writers:

- Opportunities from Penguin
- From other organisations
- For published writers
- Writing retreats

For new writers

WriteNow is run by Penguin Random House and aims to find, nurture and publish new writers from communities under-represented on the nation's bookshelves. It offers workshops and feedback, and includes the chance to join a year-long programme.

#Merky Books is a home for underrepresented voices and provides a platform where their stories can be told, heard and uplifted. The winner of the New Writers' Prize receives a publishing contract. All longlisted writers are invited to our Writers' Camp, where they participate in writing workshops, panel talks, editorial one-to-ones, and meet the #Merky Books team.

The Harvill Secker Young Translators' Prize aims to recognise the achievements of young translators at the start of their careers and to encourage and support the next generation of literary translators. It focuses on a different language each prize year and is open to anyone between the ages of 18 and 34, with no more than one full-length translation published.

Awarded for the best piece of writing on an annual theme. The winner of the Writing Prize receives a cash prize, and the runners-up receive travel expense support that must be used to attend their annual symposium which is hosted in a European country. All genres of writing are permitted, including fiction, non-fiction and non-academic essays. Open to unpublished writers only.

Established to recognise and encourage excellence in the craft of poetry writing and to provide a platform for publication, the Anthology Poetry Competition is open to original and previously unpublished poems in the English language.

Established to recognise and encourage creative writing and provide a platform for publication, the Anthology Short Story Competition is open to original and previously unpublished short stories in the English language by a writer of any nationality, living anywhere in the world.

The Aurora Prize for Writing is a national competition run by Writing East Midlands, in partnership with the Society of Authors. It seeks outstanding new writing in short fiction and poetry.

The Financial Times and McKinsey want to encourage young authors to tackle emerging business themes and ask entrants to submit a business book proposal. The prize aims to encourage a new generation of business writers and has already seen a number of shortlisted and longlisted proposals emerge as published books.

The Bath Novel Award and The Bath Children's Novel Award spotlight emerging writers, and are open to unpublished and independently published novelists worldwide.

The First Novel Award is open to unrepresented and unpublished authors for a novel in any adult fiction genre.

Curtis Brown Creative, supported by the Curtis Brown and C&W agencies, run a programme of creative writing courses, mentoring opportunities and scholarships for under-represented writers - with all opportunities fully funded for the writers taking part.

Curtis Brown Creative, supported by the Curtis Brown and C&W agencies, regularly offer funded places on their courses to talented writers facing barriers to entry.

This mentoring programme is for talented writers who fulfil the eligibility criteria and are seeking targeted, detailed one-to-one feedback on a work-in-progress, plus industry advice. You can apply to be mentored for a project at any writing stage.

Entries of original short fiction between 1000 and 5000 words can be entered into the Brick Lane Bookshop Short Story Prize. The winner will receive £1,000 and 12 shortlisted writers will be included in an anthology.

The Bridport Prize has a number of categories: novel, poetry, short story and flash fiction. All the awards are for work which has not previously been published, while the novel award is only open to writers who are not represented by a literary agent.

This is an annual international writing competition open to all published and unpublished, UK and non-UK-based writers.

An Edinburgh-based, international writing competition for unpublished and self-published novelists in all genres for adults and YA.

The prize is open to all Commonwealth citizens aged 18 and over entering a story of between 2,500 and 5,000 words. The regional winners receive £2,500 and the overall winner receives a total of £5,000. The winning stories are published online by Granta and in a special print collection by Paper + Ink.

The Creators of Justice Literary Awards is an annual, international contest featuring works which highlight the struggle for human rights and social justice across the world. Writers can submit one poem, essay, or short story on an annual theme.

The Creative Future Writers' Award (CFWA) is a national writing development programme which celebrates talented, underrepresented writers who lack opportunities due to mental health issues, disability, health or social circumstance. Prizes include £20,000 of cash and top writing development prizes supplied by prominent publishers and development agencies.

CRIPtic Arts x Spread the Word collaboratively produce a range of activities including salons, a retreat and research for deaf and disabled writers. Their work together aims to offer a range of activities to support, develop and empower deaf and disabled writers.

The Women's Prize Trust, NatWest, Curtis Brown Literary Agency and Curtis Brown Creative Writing School have partnered to create Discoveries, a unique initiative searching for the most talented and original new female writing voices in the UK and Ireland. The winner will be offered representation by Curtis Brown Literary Agency and a cash prize of £5,000.

Footnote Press and Counterpoints Arts have partnered to launch the Footnote x Counterpoints Writing Prize for writers from refugee and migrant backgrounds. The £15,000 award, which includes an advance of £5,000 and a publication agreement with Footnote Press, is for narrative non-fiction centred around themes of displacement, identity and/or resistance. Writers can be published or unpublished.

Green Stories writing competitions are a series of free writing competitions open to all across various formats to solicit stories that showcase what a sustainable society might look like.

The 2023 Novel Prize is open to authors from all countries, provided their submissions are in English. To be eligible to enter, authors must be unrepresented. Entrants are asked to submit the first 5,000 words of their manuscript.

Geared towards supporting writers at the start of their careers, the programme includes writing development masterclasses, literary networking opportunities, peer support and guidance in use of the Library's resources. With its extensive open-access book collection, dedicated writing spaces and diverse community of established writers, the benefits of Library membership are very valuable.

This is a development programme run by Spread the Word which aims to increase the number of writers from under-represented communities being taken up by agents and publishers. The awards support  30  London-based writers of  colour  and working class, LGBTQ+ and disabled writers  each year, and bursaries are available for writers in need. There is also an Access Fund for disabled writers. Writers on the awards scheme take part in group feedback sessions on their work and also attend one-to-one professional development sessions.

The Mairtín CrawfordAwards are aimed at writers working towards their first full collection of poetry, short stories, or a novel. Both published and unpublished writers are invited to submit between 3-5 poems for the poetry award, and a short story of up to 2,500 words for the short story award, with the only stipulation being that they have not yet published a full collection of poetry, short stories, or a novel.

City Lit's Malorie Blackman Scholarships for Unheard Voices provide three annual awards worth up to £1000 each, to fund one year's study within the Creative Writing department at City Lit.

The Manchester Writing Competition for poetry and fiction, offers the UK's biggest literary awards for unpublished work, with each category awarding £10,000.

The Mogford Prize for Food and Drink Writing is an annual short story competition open to writers across the globe. The prize awards £10,000 to the best short story that has food and drink at its heart.

Jointly run by Morley College London and the Rachel Mills Literary Agency, the prize is awarded to unpublished aspiring authors of colour. There are two prizes - one for works of fiction and one for Life Writing and Creative Non-fiction.

The Moth Magazine runs an annual short story prize, nature writing prize and poetry prize open to anyone from anywhere in the world, as long as their writing is original and previously unpublished.

The National Poetry Competition is one of the world's most prestigious prizes for an unpublished poem of up to 40 lines, open to anyone 18 or over.

Open to poets from around the world, the winner receives £1,000, with a second prize of £300 and a third prize of £200.

The Nine Dots Prize is a prize for creative thinking that tackles contemporary societal issues. Entrants are asked to respond to a question in 3,000 words, with the winner receiving $100,000 to write a short book expanding on their ideas. The aim of the Prize is to promote, encourage and engage innovative thinking to address problems facing the modern world. Its name references the nine dots puzzle - a lateral thinking puzzle which can only be solved by thinking outside the box.

The winner of the Oxford Poetry Prize receives £1,000, the runner-up £200, and third place £100. The winning poets are also offered publication in Oxford Poetry.

The Poetry London Prize is a major, internationally renowned award for a single outstanding poem. The first prize is £5,000.

Run by Wasifiri, the magazine of international literature, in conjunction with Queen Mary University, this prize supports new writers.

The Rhys Davies Short Story Competition is a distinguished national writing competition for writers born or living in Wales. The first prize is £1,000 and publication in a short story anthology to be published by Parthian Books.

The annual prize of £1,000 goes to the best unpublished short story of the year. The winning entry is also published in Prospect magazine and the RSL Review.

The New Writers Awards is an annual awards programme supporting individuals committed to developing their writing. The award includes a cash award, a week-long retreat, training and mentoring.

The Next Chapter Award is an annual award supporting an emerging writer over the age of 40. The Award includes a cash reward, 2-week writing retreat, training and mentoring.

The Society of Authors runs annual awards, which are open to writers at all stages of their careers. Among them is The ALCS Tom-Gallon Trust Award for a short story (applicants need to have had at least one short story accepted for publication); and The McKitterick Prize, which is given annually to an author over the age of 40 for a first novel, published or unpublished.

The competition is open to original, unpublished and unbroadcast short stories in the English language of 3,000 words or fewer. The first prize is €2,000 and a one-week residency at Anam Cara Retreat.

Searchlight Writing for Children Awards is an international competition for aspiring authors writing for children or young adults. Categories are 'Best Children's Picture Book Text' and 'Best Novel Opening for Children or Young Adults'.

Chicken House are looking for original ideas, a fresh voice, and a diverse range of entries and stories that children will love! They'd particularly like to encourage entry from writers from underrepresented backgrounds. The first prize is a worldwide publishing contract with Chicken House with a royalty advance of £10,000, plus an offer of representation from an agent.

The Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize is an international prize that supports and celebrates the best adventure writing today. The Prize is open to writers of any nationality, writing in English. Awards are presented in three categories: Best Published Novel, New Voices and Author of Tomorrow.

Writers & Artists run the W&A Working-Class Writers' Prize - a celebration of stories as a mode of communication, and a reminder of how vital it is that everyone can share their ideas and experiences via the written word. The prize includes a cash prize and mentoring sessions with an acclaimed author.

Run by The Deborah Rogers Found - set up in memory of a late literary agent - The Writers Award gives £10,000 to an unpublished writer to enable them to complete a first book. It is run biannually.
These awards are for published writers only, and in order to be considered books must be nominated by their publisher or agent - authors cannot usually enter themselves (with the exception of the fellowships). However, as a writer looking to get published, it's always worth taking stock of the titles being longlisted and shortlisted for some of the top literary awards to give you a sense of which types of books are receiving critical acclaim. We've included prizes for fiction and non-fiction titles here.
For published writers

The Baillie Gifford Prize rewards excellence in non-fiction writing across current affairs, history, politics, science, sport, travel, biography, autobiography and the arts.

An annual prize, entrants must have a prior record of publishing creative work in the UK. Stories up to 8,000 words are accepted and may be submitted by the author or by their agent. Shortlisted stories are awarded a prize of £600.

The leading literary award in the English-speaking world, which has brought recognition, reward and readership to outstanding fiction for over 50 years. Awarded annually to the best novel of the year written in English and published in the UK or Ireland. Although you have to be nominated by your publisher, many debut novels have been longlisted and shortlisted in the past.

The Desmond Elliott Prize encourages publishers from across the UK and Ireland to submit literary fiction debuts for consideration, awarding one winning author £10,000 to shape their developing career.

The Forward Prizes for Poetry honour excellence in contemporary poetry published in UK and Ireland.

This prestigious £30,000 prize goes to the book that is judged to have provided the most compelling and enjoyable insight into modern business issues, with £10,000 awarded to each runner-up.

Celebrating outstanding writing by great authors living in the UK and Ireland, these awards list the best books of the year for their quality of writing and readability. There are four categories: Children's Fiction, Debut Fiction, Fiction and Non-Fiction. An overall winner, given the Nero Gold Prize for the "Book of the Year", is also be named.

Awarded for the best published literary work in the English language, written by an author aged 39 or under, the prize celebrates the international world of fiction in all its forms including poetry, novels, short stories, and drama. The winner receives a prize of £30,000.

The RSL Christopher Bland Prize is an annual award of £10,000 to a debut novelist or non-fiction writer first published aged 50 or over.

The annual award of £10,000 for a distinguished work of fiction, non-fiction or poetry, evoking the spirit of a place.

The Ignite Fellowship supports established writers who are embarking on or working through a significant project. You can apply whether the project is in its very earliest stages or already a work in progress.

The Women's Prize for Fiction is the UK's most prestigious annual book award celebrating and honouring fiction written by women.

Writing retreats

Arvon runs an annual programme of creative writing courses and retreats for schools, groups and individuals. Their courses, tutored by leading authors, are held at three rural centres and include a mix of workshops and individual tutorials, with time and space to write, free from distractions of everyday life. Arvon courses are in a range of genres and they have different styles of courses. Grants are available to help with course fees.

The Garsdale Retreat is a creative writing centre in the Yorkshire Dales. It provides inspirational courses tutored by professional writers, enabling participants to develop their individual creativity in a place of peace and tranquillity, away from the distractions and stresses of everyday life.

Gladstone's Library is a residential library and meeting place which is dedicated to dialogue, debate and learning for open-minded individuals and groups, who are looking to explore pressing questions and to pursue study and research. They offer a programme of courses and events that keep them connected with a wide range of writers and thinkers.

Moniack Mhor is Scotland's National Writing Centre. Based in the Scottish Highlands, they run courses in a range of genres tutored by some of the finest authors in the UK and beyond. They also sponsor awards, bursaries, and professional residencies to develop works in progress and a programme for young writers.

This former flour mill in South Down, Northern Ireland is now a boutique reading and writing retreat. They offer individual residencies and workshops.

Tŷ Newydd is the National Writing Centre of Wales, run by Literature Wales specialising in residential creative writing courses.

Providing residential retreats in Devon and one-day courses in London, they offer guidance and space away from everyday life.

We will keep this page updated with new opportunities as and when they become available. If you want to let us know about a new opportunity, please email us: gettingpublished@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
There are many awards and development schemes available for authors at all stages of their careers. Below is a list of monetary awards, sponsored retreats, mentorships and training opportunities. If you're looking for help both in development or funding from organisations near you, find information about local support here.

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.ukwriterscollege.co.uk/short-story-writing-competitions/

# data[].attributes.body
https://creativewritingink.co.uk/competitions/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Writing Competitions " Creative Writing Ink

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A curated list of online writing competitions, updated regularly.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
ReadWorks | Award-Winning, EdTech Nonprofit Organization

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
ReadWorks is an edtech nonprofit organization that is committed to helping to solve America’s reading comprehension crisis.

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.lexiauk.co.uk/

# data[].attributes.body
Anna and I observed a demonstration class, toured the classroom, a corridor of book displays, and also the school library.

RE: https://lexonik.co.uk/literacy-intervention-programmes/lexonik-advance

Here’s a brief report following our visit to Marple Hall and meeting with their Intervention Literacy Lead, Claire Beirne.

| Demo class contents | The sell it to students bit. Adult/baby vowels: AEIOU aeiou Part-time vowels: Y y Baby blanket  Hos pit al  Rep u ta tion  “Is revision any good?” Brain imprints (blue-tac) model The more you… SAY/SAY/SAY/DO/DO/DO  Suffix/prefix intro  Latin/Green/language and time  University word origin (recognising Manchester etc have broken that rule)

Lexonik Advance takes 1-2 days in-person training and 1 day online. It is tailor costed to the school. Claire mentioned £3.5K for a double pack of resources. Annual subscription (“you rent the equipment”). Website states: “Licences starting from as little as £3,350 +VAT in year one, with subsequent renewals start from £2,000 +VAT.”

4 students attended the demonstration class. The resources allow for 1-4 students, allowing for more resistant or challenging students. All students had clearly never attended a session. Each was engaged, although some settling was required by 2 students with S.E.N. Students joined in and developed a taste for the class, leaving the room with an apparent showing that they wanted more.

1:4 teacher:student

Targets students with standardised scores of 85-120 score

Firstly, Lexonik Advance appears to be a superior option than the purposes of Lexia and Bedrock. This 6 week course enables students to decode and adapt by understanding prefixes, suffixes, base words and adult/baby sound of the vowels (and the part-time/mimic vowel). Lexonic Leap is similar to custom-made phonics packages, that we can and have produced. Marple Hall are moving away from Lexonic Leap.

Phonological awareness (links/connects to text/subjects/experience)

Automaticity & comprehension development

phased repetition

Fills gaps in knowledge of words/vocabulary, answering rules of language/why

Age-suitable

Subject specific and interdisciplinary vocabulary words are inclusive/broad in range and variety

Requires embracement and embedding (tail-end of results to top-end; it would benefit every student with scores of 70+; Claire said they now have those with scores of 86-120 in attendance)

Sequential activities and clear set plan of action (the document INSTRUCTION SCRIPT is central)

At entry students receive reasoning, a one-to-one assessment (reading-based) and the same exit-assessment is completed after 6 weeks. Students attend one class per week, over 6 weeks. In total, 6 class sessions and 2 short assessment sessions are needed.

Marple Hall have seen reading age gains, across this last year. Claire mentioned Lexonik will not reveal their formula for their own reading age scores. They did try to break it down with their maths department… but have yet to uncrack that code.

Tracking is via assessments on Lexonik Cloud.

Students feel one class a week is “too short” BUT Lexonik enforce 1 per week over 6 weeks. Lexonik noted “as quite controlling”.

Following the 6 week intervention, Claire attends classes with students around 2 weeks after, and also after 4 weeks to see the progression.

Resources: packs for KS3 and KS4 are available, with all materials (heavily guarded for copyrights and intellectual property reasons). The activities range was broad, engaging and versatile drawing on sound chunks/syllables, Latin and Green word components,

Is it suitable for all S.E.N.D. students? No. However, with proper guidance, it will certainly entertain and engage the majority, if delivered at a pace with impassioned delivery.

To back up this review, a National Literacy Trust study supports use of Lexonik Advance.

Other matters to bring to attention:

Marple Hall also use Toe to Toe; Boost to Reading/Better Reading; etc.

Bedrock, for similar reasons to Lexonic Leap, is being moved away from. It is too-heavily based on independent study, too technical and encourages too much screen time.

Summer Reading Challenge pack sent to year 6 students ahead of entry to Marple Hall

WORD CLUB; GEEK CLUB;

use of set literacy area displays (images taken);

literacy trail displays (16 before 16, etc);

the library set-up;

interdisciplinary Frayer models;

Form time: reading 2x per week; Echo reading (e.g. breaking down words to sounds, and sub-words, meanings and debate of new words such as antidisestablishmentarianism)

EAL models at Marple Hall revolve around Benchmark, seasonal conversations/connections, sporting events, walks with conversation, basic EAL resources and the use of Lexonik Advance.

Other matters to research:

Aphantasia [the inability to form mental images of objects that are not present]. No known cure. Affects 1/50 people.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The answer is really simple, you need to identify the pupils who need support the most, intervene and then track their progress, identifying the interventions that work best for them.

With Literacy Assessment Online you can instantly start to see the pupils who need the most support from the colour coded charts and graphs automatically produced for you.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Literacy Assessment Online | Quickly measure, track & improve literacy in your school.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The answer is really simple, you need to identify the pupils who need support the most, intervene and then track their progress, identifying the interventions that work best for them. With Literacy Assessment Online you can instantly start to see the pupils who need the most support from the colour coded charts and graphs automatically produced for you.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Prodigy English and Prodigy Math are both adaptive, engaging, game-based learning platforms designed to help students love learning. And all of Prodigy Math and Prodigy English's educational content is free!

In Prodigy English, players answer reading and writing questions to gain energy that allows their in-game character to build their own world.

In Prodigy Math, players answer math questions to help them win battles, complete quests and earn awesome rewards.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Prodigy English and Prodigy Math are both adaptive, engaging, game-based learning platforms designed to help students love learning. And all of Prodigy Math and Prodigy English's educational content is free! In Prodigy English, players answer reading and writing questions to gain energy that allows their in-game character to build their own world.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Resource type: Assessment and progression

Price band: £

Key stage: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4

Region(s): All of UK

EAL Star is an online assessment tool created to help primary and secondary schools carry out initial assessments for EAL students and monitor and track their progress. The platform provides an EAL register that allows schools to view data on all of their students in one place. A performance dashboard provides a range of reports that can be downloaded and shared with relevant stakeholders.

The platform provides online testing for listening, speaking and reading and downloadable tests for writing. The tests are standardised against the DfE proficiency scale and test results are automatically added to a pupil's profile.

Cost: Starting from £105 per year for up to 20 students.

About EAL Star: EAL Star was created by experienced EAL consultant Beth Southern. Beth is also the founder of Inclusion Hub, which provides high-quality resources to support EAL learners and pupils with SEND in the mainstream classroom.

Literacy Hive Likes:

A two week free trial for up to 35 students is available.

The individual pupil profiles allow schools to capture a wide range of information that can be shared with TAs and teachers to support learning.

The online assessment system uses rolling average scoring that will intuitively end a test once it becomes too difficult for a pupil.

'Next Steps' guidance is provided for each level of proficiency with activities and strategies to support pupils .

Subscribers to EAL Star receive a discount for sister site EAL Hub, which provides a wide range of scaffolding resources for EAL learners.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Online assessment platform for EAL learners.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
British Council LearnEnglish Teens | Free resources for teens to help improve your English

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
LearnEnglish Teens provides information, tips and resources to help teenagers learn English.

# data[].attributes.body
YEAR 8
| STAR CAT  | JAMES TURNER/YASMIN SHEIKH  | 2
| YOU ARE A CHAMPION  | MARCUS RASHFORD  | 5
| GO BIG  | MATTHEW BURTON  | 3
| AMBER UNDERCOVER  | EM NORY  | 12
| THE WILLOW MAN  | SUE PURKISS  | 3
| BUGSY MALONE: THE PLAY  | ALAN PARKER  | 25
| MY BIG MOUTH  | STEVE CAMDEN  | 16
| ORION LOST  | ALISTAIR CHISHOLM  | 13
| WAVE RIDERS  | LAUREN ST JOHN  | 13
| WHEN THE SKY FALLS  | PHIL EARLE  | 18
| THE HOUSE OF CLOUDS  | LISA THOMPSON  | 13
| LU  | JASON REYNOLDS  | 15
| WAITING FOR MURDER  | ELEUR HITCHCOCK  | 10
| THE GIRL IN WOODEN ARMOUR  | CONRAD MASON  | 14
| THE ASTONINSHING FUTURE OF ALEX NOBODY  | KATE GILBY SMITH  | 14
| ALEX RIDER: NIGHTSHADE  | ANTHONY HOROWITZ  | 13
| HORROR HEIGHTS: THE SLIME  | BEC HILL  | 12

# data[].attributes.body
Hatchett Pupil Guide

# data[].attributes.body
capacity;
quality first;
direct;
increase mileage;

# data[].attributes.body
8 before 8

# data[].attributes.body
vouchers;
gifts;
books;
prizes;
events

# data[].attributes.body
Fast Forwards

# data[].attributes.body
Folens Accelerated Literacy Programme

# data[].attributes.body
Blake Education Highlights

# data[].attributes.body
PM Benchmark Literacy Assessment

# data[].attributes.body
Pearson Rapid Plus

# data[].attributes.body
Smart Kids Reading Comprehension

# data[].attributes.body
observe

# data[].attributes.body
resource pack

# data[].attributes.body
Rat (Patrice Lawrence)

# data[].attributes.body
Assessment 1
teacher mindmap
DEEP WATER title prompt
Deep Water extract 1
Deep Water extract 2
Deep Water extract 3
Deep Water extract 4
Deep Water extract 5
Deep Water extract 6
Deep Water extract 7
Deep Water extract 8
Deep Water extract 9
Deep Water extract 10
Deep Water extract 11
Deep Water extract 12
Another Paradise extract I
Another Paradise extract II
Another Paradise extract III
Another Paradise extract IV
Another Paradise extract V
Quote Analysis
Assessment 2
Evaluation

# data[].attributes.body
projector;
screen;
whiteboard;
noticeboard;
desks/chairs (variable positions);
adaptive workspaces;
stationery;
thesaurus (x5);
dictionary (x5);

# data[].attributes.body
double-spaced;
thicker books if clear;
not white paper;
screens;

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Used by over 4,200
schools worldwide

Increase spelling and reading age by 11 months in just 26 hours without the need for one to one help.

Creating life changing
opportunities for all.

International Dyslexia Learning (IDL) provides specialist multi-sensory software to primary and secondary schools in the UK and around the world.

Our main goal is to provide learning support to those most in need and our software is used by thousands of learners across the globe. IDL was developed to support the growing number of young people who are falling through the gaps in Literacy and Numeracy.
Find Out More About IDL

Children using IDL.
Proven to improve confidence and self-esteem.

Supporting SEN around the world

Accelerating Literacy

It is always worrying when children fall behind in literacy because it affects more than just their progress in school. It impacts on their confidence and self-esteem too.
Read full case study

IDL is an excellent literacy catch- up tool for children who struggle with reading and spelling.

Sarah Watson, Senco at Newton Bluecoat CE Primary School, Preston

Improving the wellbeing of children with dyslexia and dyscalculia

Developed around five basic principles

Our software was developed in direct response to the growing number of young people who are falling through the gaps in literacy and numeracy. IDL Literacy has been in use for over 30 years and can dramatically increase reading and spelling ages for those with dyslexia or low literacy levels.

Learn More Start Free Trial

Multi Sensory Lessons

IDL uses sight, sound, touch, and voice to improve literacy and mathematical ability.

Progress Monitoring

Teachers can easily see how pupils are achieving against expected standards for their age group along with identifying areas they are struggling with most.

Simple To Use

IDL has been simply designed to make it easy for pupils and teachers to use.

Independent Learning

Pupils are able to work independently on the programme, allowing for larger intervention groups.

Available Anywhere

Pupils can use IDL from school or at home, on a computer or tablet. The cloud is used to store pupil progress so they can pick up where they left off.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Welcome to IDLS Group, your partner in creating effective and engaging learning environments.

# data[].attributes.body
support

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Provision Map is designed and supported by a team of teachers with a combined experience of over 60 years in the classroom. Abigail, our resident SENCO has 20 years experience working in SEN and is always on hand to help with expert advice. We know what it is like to work in a school and our expert team do their very best to support you every step of the way.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Home - Learning Plans & Provision Map Writer

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Provision Map is designed and supported by a team of teachers with a combined experience of over 60 years in the classroom. Abigail, our resident SENCO has 20 years experience working in SEN and is always on hand to help with expert advice.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Digital Literacy Curriculum | Bedrock Learning

# data[].attributes.body
https://lexonik.co.uk/literacy-intervention-programmes/lexonik-advance

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Rapidly improve reading, spelling, vocabulary and comprehension, with average reading age gains of 27 months in just six weekly one-hour sessions.

Independently reviewed by Northumbria University and The National Literacy Trust, Lexonik Advance is proven to make immediate, significant and sustainable progress for students of any age.

This programme is face-to-face and fully resourced, targeted for students with a standardised reading score of 85-115.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Lexonik Advance Literacy Intervention Programme - Lexonik

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Lexonik Advance is the only literacy programme proven to raise reading ages by 27+ months in 6 weeks, raising attainment and achievement for all learners across the UK and across the world.

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.lexialearning.com/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Lexia Learning Systems https://www.lexialearning.com/Assets/img/logo.svg 1984 978-405-6232 info@lexialearning.com 300 Baker Avenue, Suite 320 Concord MA 01742 USA

k

Why Lexia

For forty years, Lexia has been at the forefront in the science of reading revolution, offering trailblazing professional learning, curriculum, and embedded assessment solutions that provide districts with actionable ways to accelerate literacy gains.

Having a literacy partner you can trust makes all the difference.

Proven literacy solutions give educators confidence as they strive to help every student read at grade level. That's why we diligently research and continuously prove our science of reading-based solutions work for every student and educator.

Together, we can make real literacy change.

Proven by Research

RAND ESSA Moderate Study Finds that Core5 Helps Students Accelerate Learning

This RAND ESSA Moderate Study finds Lexia® Core5® Reading helps students accelerate learning.

Lexia for You

Lexia provides science of reading-based professional learning and curriculum solutions to 6.7 million K-12 students and their 360,000 educators at more than 23,000 schools nationwide.

Learn more about Lexia for your state.

Proven by Users

Lexia's Core5: A 'Top-Notch' Data-Driven Literacy Platform for Michigan Educators

Before, During, and After the Pandemic: Core5 Helps Michigan Educators Take Reading Scores to New Heights with 93% NWEA Growth Rate.

"I never dreamed that there would be acceleration support for kids like what we have now with Lexia." —Christine Cyporyn, Waterford School District Title I Coordinator

Our Literacy Suite

Our science of reading-based professional learning, curriculum, and embedded assessment literacy solutions can be used together or individually to meet the learning needs for any student as well as teachers who support them.

A Cambium Learning® Group Brand

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
All for Literacy. Because Literacy Can and Should Be for All. | Lexia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Lexia is a leader in science of reading literacy solutions. | Lexia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Literacy Classroom

Supporting the teaching of English in UK primary schools

Children's Book Awards

Using literature in the classroom has long been recognised as being important.

Even as far back as 1975 it was suggested in the national report 'A Language for Life' that exposure to and use of children's literature is beneficial to children's development in a number of ways. 'it helps you shape the personality, refine the sensibility, sharpen the critical intelligence; that it is a powerful instrument for empathy, a medium through which the child can acquire his values.' (Bullock, 1975)

Marriott (1995) also provides four reasons for teaching fiction in the primary school: personal, social, intellectual and cultural. He explains that reading is an enjoyable activity which helps individuals grow personally. As individuals read they can experience events vicariously and therefore grow and develop through these experiences. In the same way readers can develop empathy by living through the experiences of the characters they read. More importantly in terms of attainment reading fiction has been shown to increase pupils' achievement in reading. This was particularly evident in the research carried out by Moore and Wade (2000) in their longitudinal study following children from the ages of six months to seven years old.

​

More recently evidence has pointed to the fact that those children who read for pleasure go on to achieve higher academic qualifications and therefore have increased life chances. We owe it to our children to switch them onto reading, not just teach the technical aspects but really switch them on to want to read for their own enjoyment and want to spend time engaging with a book.

I am passionate about children's literature and nurturing a love of reading. On these pages you will find suggestions for quality texts to introduce and read with your children and activities and resources to engage pupils in those texts and develop their comprehension skills

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A website for primary English teachers to support curriculum 2014 with literacy resources, interactive games, book reviews and units of work.

# data[].attributes.body
Seneca - Learn 2x Faster

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
World's First Accelerated Learning Platform

# data[].attributes.body
lunch time

# data[].attributes.body
strategies across the curriculum

# data[].attributes.body
support across the curriculum

# data[].attributes.body
SAS 90-100

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
TRT requires about 1 hour per week one-to-one for 6-12 hours. After that, when confidence has increased, small group work is an option. Add in spelling and writing to complement reading practice. Some will need one-to-one for longer, especially those who are still embarrassed to read in front of peers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
AssessEP (English Proficiency Testing)

Across Cultures English Proficiency Assessment (AssessEP) assesses speaking, listening, reading and writing.

The assessment takes less than 30 minutes per learner and can be administered in groups (and by unqualified staff). Suitable for learners aged 7+ through to adult.

Approximately aligned to CEFR levels (and other selected continua, including ELLP, BELL and NASSEA)

The English proficiency assessment can be used for:

Admissions testing

Summative English language proficiency performance indicator

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Blended EAL vocabulary, language structure and reading programme for new to English and low level literacy learners