Support for out of School Learning

Introduction

This page will collate the SLA resources that are of particular use when working from home. 
These are in addition to our usual provision of Online Courses, Publications, the CPD Library and the support resources and advice line. 

The SLA office is still open, and we are on hand to maintain services. 

You can find a list of resources and platforms which have been made freely available below, as well as information about upcoming events and plans in reaction to the closure of schools. 

We will update this page as needed. Best wishes for you all at this time.

Books and working resources
Books and working resources
Learning, Fun and Working From Home

Recently added Resources/Activities

Reading is Magic festival - Six days of free, inclusive and engaging digital events for schools and families 27.9 - 2/10

Join the Where's Wally? Spooky Museum Search - Kids in Museums & Walker Books teaming up for a half term activity 

Amrit Birdi - video showing how he illustrated the cover of the new Alex Rider graphic novel, Ark Angel by Anthony Horowitz and Antony Johnston.

Poetry Society virtual 'selfies' - reading recommendations on various topics, suitable for young people

Best summer reads for children 2020 - Sunday Times 

Jennifer Bell, Wonderscape - Teachers Notes 

Exploring Pictures in Picture Books - webinar recording and blog from Mathew Tobin
World Book Day - World of Stories free audiobooks to listen to, extended to over the summer 
Shannon & Dean Hale - Pincess in Black and the Case of the Coronavirus free downloadable story
DC Superpets - free poster and book 
Little Angel Theatre - Puppetry Sofa series of online performances including John Klassen's I Want My Hat Back
Storytime - with Mama G
Red Herring games - family friendly murder mystery event based on Charlie & the Chocolate Factory 
#ReadIndieForward - support your favourite independent bookstore

JKP Library - free ebooks on topical subjects

Children's Bookshow - sharing book of the week emails, videos etc


Reading for Pleasure - book/film related lessons & resources  


Beanstalk Charity - reading rainbow to display
Bear Hunt - activity sheets, cut out bear & bear ears
The Book of Hopes - free downloadable anthology of stories, poems, essays & pictures from over 100 children's authors & illustrators
Book Riot - 7 of the best educational comics for home schooling 
Bookseller Magazine - Children's special
CNN & Sesame Street - special COVID themed programme

Everybody Worries - free downloadable picture book about the pandemic from Oxford OwlForestry England - 10 ways to keep kids entertained during Covid-19

Isadora Moon - guide to writing 

Junior Library Guild - free access to online reading platform

Juniper Reading Challenge - six-book challengedesigned to keep children KS1 – KS2 reading at home
Juniper Book Awards - fab book trailers 
Libraries from home - Libraries Connected list of digital resources from public libraries
Lucas Maxell - #oneminutebookreview on Instagram
Make a Howler - resource from teacher Kate on FB 
Research Rich pedagogies - mini reading challenges

Richard & Judy - presenting book programme on Channel 4 from 4th MayRoyal Borough of Windsor & Kingston Libraries - rhyme time videos Scottish Book Trust Authors On Demand

Shakespeare Week - resources themed around the bard and his plays
Winnie & Wilbur Stay At Home - free wbook & activities
Wizarding World - Harry Potter At Home
World Book Day - Top 100 books to share
World of Stories - audiobooks from World Book Day


Authors & illustrators providing free content 


Mac Barnett - Instagram book club
Rod Biddulph #drawwithRob
Jo Cotterill - Jelly teaching resources
Sarah Crossan - online poetry readings on Instagram
Sarah Ferguson - reading children's books aloud, with Guess How Much I Love You read by Princess Eugenie 
Giovanna Fletcher - reading 5 Minutes Peace
Tom Fletcher - live readings of his books 
Mark Haddon - Social Distance graphic novel written for The Guardian

Chris Haughton

Anthony Horowitz - chapters of new Diamond Brothers story Where Seagulls Dare now online, next chapter released eachFriday

Oliver Jeffers reading one of his books a day live on Instagram, posted to his website afterwards

Julie's Library - storytime with Julie Andrews podcast
Simon Lelic - reading Haven chapter by chapter on YouTube
Wendy Meddour - reading her books aloud 
Nicola Morgan - book giveaways
Paul Morton - videos, downloads etc
Parsley Mimblewood - downloadable ebook How Not To Go To School
Lucy Powrie - Covid -19 themed short story from Paper & Hearts Society author
Quentin Blake - free ecards 
Peter Reynolds - reading aloud on Facebook
Marcus Sedgwick - reading Floodland aloud
Nick Sharratt - free downloadable 'Wash Your Hands' posters, 1 to colour yourself 
Jools Wilson, illustration - activity sheets 

Library Related 

Branching Out - Books For Topics series of reading on posters (If you liked this ...read this
Inspire Education Library Service - online primary book award #Inspireread2020
Kent Online - reading in lockdown & online book clubs to join
Kingston Libraries - running a programme of digital events
Library Lady - weekly round up of book news from librarian Anne Thompson
Mr Bodd - 2 new alternative reading tube maps, 7+ & 9+
Mrs Lodges Library - shelving activity
Norfolk Libraries - blog with upcoming events & activities
School Library Journal - free tools for learning and teaching online list 

CPD


Just Imagine - free webinars on the theme of reading 
Open University - free courses 
Open University - free course Book Talk in the School Library 
SCIS short course - managing your library collection & catalogue

Youtube (authors & illustrators etc)

Anne Frank - if Anne Frank was a vlogger, Youtube channel
Kate DiCamillo - sharing writing prompts etc
Disney - I Am With You specially recorded song from Frozen's Olaf
Gaspard and the Quiet Day - new story reassuring & educating them about the current situation
Gaspard's Den - activities from Zeb Soanes YouTube
Alexander Gordon Smith - reading a chapter a day of his book Lockdown
Anna James Bookwanders online book club
Steve Lenton - drawing
Andrew Lloyd Webber - streaming a different musical each week
National Shelf Service - daily ebook recommendations from librarians 
Storyline online - authors reading their books aloud US
Mo Willems - giving Jimmy Fallon a lesson 
Zuntold Publishing - launching #YouTubeLive videos from 4th May at 5p.m. 

Ebooks, audiobooks & online reading

 
Please be aware that copyright restrictions remain in force. Up to 5% of a book or one chapter may be copied. Whole books cannot be read aloud and posted online without the express permission of the publisher/author. Some authors have given permissions in the current climate for that to be relaxed , but unless you are certain this is the case, it remains illegal . You can find more information here )

Beano - free digital copy to download 
Comixology - free comics 
DC Comics - selection of comics free to download & read until 8th June 
Gizmo's Freeware - list of online reading
The Ickabob - JK Rowling publishing stand alone story online with accompanying illustration competition 
Marvel Unlimited - read selection of comics for free  
Netgalley - free proof ebooks for librarians, teachers & blogger
Rain Before Rainbows -Walker Books release of free ebook to raise awareness for Save The Children's Save with Stories campaign helping children most affected by the pandemic  
Scoop magazine - free download of full copy of Scoop Magazine for kids 
Simon & Rosie - Covid themed picture book download from Lucy Moonen & Gillian Johnson
Wizarding World - Chapter 1 of Philosopher's Stone read by Daniel Radcliffe & continuing chapters read by other celebrities 

Publishers & Booksellers 

Andersen Press - Staying Home downloadable ebook
Barrington Stoke - Home School Help for Lockdown for dyslexic readers
JKP Books - Teachers Read scheme 
Moon Lane Books & Toys - HipHop Love Books, picture book videos
Nosy Crow - free information book explaining coronavirus to young children illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Penguin - Classic cover generator 
Penguin Perspectives - leading authors, offering their response to the Covid-19 outbreak. 
Peters Booksellers - 100 books for parents
What on Earth Books - educator resources 

Events & just for fun

Cookie Monster - weekly snack chat with recipes etc
Hay Festival Digital - 22 - 31st May (events now on Hay Player)
National Theatre - At Home quiz

Twitter


Twitter chat on the theme of children's book series every Tuesday & Thursday from 8p.m., regular bi weekly chat #BOOKSNEARBEDTIME
#storystarters
#freebookresources
Josh Gad (Frozen's voice of Olaf) sharing stories 
Sir Patrick Stewart - reading a Shakespeare sonnet a day online
Rod Biddulph #drawwithRob





I'm in school, but there's few pupils... 

Webinars

We are  running a series of webinars over the next few months, on topics from social media to library events, to hearing from international education and leadership speaker Richard Gerver. You can find out more about the webinars here: https://www.sla.org.uk/events

I'm sure there's no shortage of things on your to-do list that you never usually get time to do, but here's some suggestions:

  • Weed - have a sort through; get rid of any old, tatty, out of date resources. Make space for displays. Put yourself in the shoes of a 13 year old - what would they find attractive and engaging?
  • Do a stocktake - check what's in your system is accurate; it saves a lot of time in the long run!
  • Write your annual report - there's still time to show what you have accomplished this year. You don't have to send it yet, but you can start pulling the data together. 
  • Change displays


There's a longer list available here from Sarah Pavey, care of SLG: https://slgtalkingbooks.com/2020/03/23/things-to-do-if-your-school-library-is-closed/