School Literacy Network

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School Literacy Network

All the Primary English support you need from a network of trusted experts and peers to plan, teach and assess English in your school(s).

Part of Libraries Unlimited.

21/09/2026

Still time to book your space and join us for this engaging online session with Into Film, exploring how stop motion animation can support literacy learning in the primary classroom.

🗓️ 23 September
🕒 15:45 to 16:45

Using examples of claymation, silhouette, paper cutout and pixilation animations, you'll explore narrative development, story planning and character design.

Free for all School Literacy Network members, including Basic (free) members.

Already a member? Book your place today.

New to SLN? Join for free and book your place.

🔗 schoollitnet.org.uk/training/

16/09/2026

These highly illustrated and engaging non-fiction books are great choices for supporting science teaching or reading for pleasure in your classroom.

Packed with information but not overly text-heavy, they make discovering new topics enjoyable for a range of abilities.

Swipe to see more of the books ➡️

🪺 I'm Building A Nest by Saskia Gwinn & Adam Ming, published by Happy Yak.
🌿 Could Rainforests Save Planet Earth by Olivia Watson & Daniel Limon, published by Beetle Books.
🐦 Flight by Mya-Rose Craig & Lynn Scurfield, published hy Puffin.
🔬 Nano by Dr Jess Wade & Melissa Castrillón, published by Walker Books.
🌑 How To Survive On the Moon by Joalda Morancy & Aaron Cushley, published by Neon Squid.
🗣 Curious Creatures: Talking Together by Zoë Armstrong & Anja Sušanj, published by Flying Eye Books.

14/09/2026

Start the new term at our Autumn 1 Network Meeting, where we’ll be joined by author, teacher and educational speaker Hywel Roberts who will bring his trademark “Botheredness” to help us reconnect with what really helps children and young people get on board with learning.

The session will also focus on the importance of the reception year, with practical classroom-ready ideas from EYFS practitioners that work in real settings – ideal for boosting talk, vocabulary and early writing.

There’ll also be updates on the DfE Writing Framework, expert guidance and all the latest on new resources to help strengthen subject leadership and save you planning time.

Join us via Zoom on 28 or 29 September, 15:45-17:00. Book via our website, SLN members you can book easily through your portal.

Botheredness HQ with Hywel Roberts

11/09/2026

Teachers favourite reads 📚

As part of the Tiverton Reads Together (TReaT) reading for pleasure project, led by Tiverton Library, school staff have been choosing their favourite books for primary-age children. The library has been sharing these recommendations as posters to inspire pupils. The children are excited to visit their local library and see their teachers and TAs book choices on the display.

This selection highlights the chapter books loved by teachers.

1. Rabbit & Bear series by Julian Gough and Jim Field, published by Hodder Children's Books. Pictured is Book 5 'A Bad King is a Sad Thing'.

2. Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson, published by Macmillian Children's Books.

3. Sky Hawk by Gill Lewis, published by OUP Oxford.

4. The Story of Tracy Beaker by Jacqueline Wilson, illustrated by Nick Sharratt and published by Yearling.

5. Boy in the Tower by Polly Yo-Hen, published by Corgi Children's.

6. Nothing to See Here series by Steven Butler, illustrated by Steven Lenton and published by Simon & Schuster Children's.
Pictured is Book 3 'Sea-ing is Believing'.

7. War Horse by Michael Morpurgo, published by Farshore.

8. Little Badman and the Invasion of the Killer Aunties by Humza Arshad and Henry White, illustrated by Aleksei Bitskoff and published by Puffin.

9. Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan, published by Puffin.
Pictured is book 1 'The Lightning Thief'.

Sharing favourite books is a simple way to increase book talk and show staff as reading mentors, helping to build a culture of reading for pleasure in the school community.

Download the free Reading For Pleasure resource from our website and use our adapted template to share your favourite reads with your class.

We are proud to work together with Tiverton Library to provide TReaT schools with membership and training, project funded by Devon Community Foundation.

09/09/2026

Handwriting is a core component of English. The DfE states that pupils need transcription skills that are “sufficiently fluent and effortless” to meet the demands of the curriculum.

Our handwriting scheme responds directly to this need with a clear, developmental pathway that prioritises early physical readiness and long-term fluency.

What makes this scheme stand out? ✨️
• Fully developmental: grounded in motor-skill research and aligned with DfE expectations for sequenced, cumulative instruction
• Easy to implement: complete daily lessons, clear assessment, no extra planning
• High impact: strong focus on fluency, legibility and purposeful writing
• Evidence informed: incorporates findings from the National Handwriting Association and current DfE Writing Framework guidance
• Flexible: schools can make individual decisions about following a cursive or break-letters pathway. Options are given for versions of ‘k’. Timings of the sessions can also be delivered in a flexible way.

This full scheme is included in our Premium Membership, discounted for Essential members or £400+VAT to download without a paid membership.

Discover now at schoollitnet.org.uk/handwriting ✍️

08/09/2026

This International Literacy Day we want to share our continued commitment to literacy.

Find out more about this UNESCO day of celebration here: https://www.unesco.org/en/days/literacy

Who are we?
The School Literacy Network is a national, charity‑led community for everyone involved in primary English teaching and learning. Follow this page for primary English updates, book recommendations, and more.

Libraries Unlimited

04/09/2026

As we are firmly in back-to-school mode, here's a few great school stories to recommend to, or read with, your class.

🍞The Breakfast Club Adventures by Marcus Rashford, written with Alex Falase-Koya, illustrated by Marta Kissi.
🐂 Minotaur Boy by Shane Hegarty, illustrated by Ruby Fresson.
🎒The First Year by Matt Goodfellow, illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton.
📚The Worst Class in the World by Joanna Nadin, illustrated by Rikin Parekh.
✨️Frankie's World by Aoife Dooley.
📝The Cheat Book by Ramzee.
🌀Revenge of the Demon Headmaster by Gillian Cross.
💎My Teacher is a Diamond Thief by Pamela Butchart, illustrated by Thomas Flintham.
🚍The Misadventures of Mina Mahmood: School Trip by Farhana Islam, illustrated by Simran Diamond Singh.

Do you have a favourite school story, modern or classic? I loved The Demon Headmaster when I was in school 🏫

02/09/2026

Coming up on the SLN calendar for Autumn 2026 📅

Starting with free training from Into Film open to all SLN members🎥

At September's network meeting we will be welcoming Hywel Roberts. Find out more about our guest at Botheredness HQ with Hywel Roberts. Essential and Premium memberships include attendance at all network meetings.

Claire Halstead will be delivering an online course focusing on Shared and Guided Writing in October, book now to secure a space.

These online CPD training sessions are ideal for everyone involved in primary English teaching 📚

30/08/2026

Save valuable planning time by accessing free classroom resources, from these brilliant organisations. Follow the tagged accounts to find out more.

Art UK can help you boost visual literacy skills with The Superpower of Looking 🖼

EmpathyLab use stories to improve young people's real-life empathy 📖

Guardian Foundation's News Wise programme helps strengthen news and media literacy in the classroom 📰

Mentally Healthy Schools website is full of high quality resources to support wellbeing in education 💛

STEM Learning's Explorify resources are a low-prep way to enhance science teaching 🔬

The National Archives have classroom resources to help bring history to life 📜

Into Film show you how to use the power of film to improve outcomes in your setting 📽

Shakespeare Birthplace Trust share resources to help pupils discover the wonder of Shakespeare 🪶

Plus, if you are not already an SLN member you can sign up to Basic Membership to access a sample of our resources including full unit plans, as well as attend one of our network meetings for free. Sign up on our website 🔗

26/08/2026

Discover some great tails (tales) today, National Dog Day! Let us know your favourite book featuring a canine character in the comments 🐕

Books pictured 📚

Oh No, George! by Chris Haughton, published by Walker Books.

How Long Is That Dog? by John Bond, published by HarperCollins Children's Books.

Dogs In Space written by Vix Southgate and illustrated by Iris Deppe, published by Wren & Rook.

A World Of Dogs written by Carlie Sorosiak and illustrated by Luisa Uribe, published by Nosy Crow.

Peanut, Butter and Crackers: Puppy Problems by Paige Braddock, published by Nosy Crow.

I Am Rebel by Ross Montgomery, cover illustration by Keith Robinson and published by Walker Books.

The Way Of Dog written by Zana Fraillon and illustrated by Sean Buckingham, published by Chicken House.

Address

Exeter Library, Castle Street
Exeter
EX43PQ

Telephone

+441392407027

Website

http://schoollitnet.org.uk/

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