Literacy Tree

👀 A sneaky behind-the-scenes glimpse from our latest podcast recording. Can you spot our special guest? 🔍

🎶 Our song choice might help...

And just to save you some guessing: it’s not Mariah Carey. Although that would have been quite the booking.

It’s Refugee Week. We’re sharing books with Literacy Tree planning to support compassionate classroom conversations about refuge, resilience and finding belonging in unfamiliar places.

These books can act as both mirrors and windows: helping some children see their experiences reflected in stories, while enabling others to deepen their understanding of displacement and develop empathy for those who have had to leave home behind. 

What stories will you be sharing with your class this week?

📢 Reception teachers! Our Story Sapling for Izzy Gizmo is now LIVE and ready to use in your Early Years classroom. 🌱

Written by Pip Jones and illustrated by Sarah Ogilvie this book is a tale about perseverance and not giving up when things go wrong. 🛠️

Carefully researched and built in collaboration with teachers, Story Saplings are designed to support your professional autonomy – not replace it.

Each session begins with Adult Led Learning, and gives the option to extend learning with:
✍️ A Reason to Write
🛝 Invitations to Play
🎵 Song, Rhythm and Rhyme
🎨 Talk, Explore, Create

“We’re not robots. We are human beings. Yes, we have to be professional in our roles and meet all of the standards expected of us, but we also need to be human beings for our children, because they’re going to go out into the world and be human beings themselves.” - Ed Lockwood

Just one of many standout moments from yesterday’s panel discussion on building queer-inclusive school cultures.

A huge thank you to our fantastic panellists for sharing their insights, experiences and advice so openly and generously. It was a hopeful conversation and a reminder of the role schools can play in ensuring every child has access to windows, mirrors and sliding glass doors through the literature they encounter.

We hope the event inspired you to take the first – or next – steps towards fostering a more queer-inclusive culture in your school.

A few reflections from attendees that reminded us why this work matters:

💬 “I feel very inspired by this webinar and when I visit the UK this summer, I will purchase books to add to my classroom library! Thank you all for helping to build an inclusive, beautiful world for our children.”

💬 “I wanted to thank you for such a fantastic webinar this afternoon. I have come away feeling both informed and motivated.”

Missed the event? Comment 🏳️‍🌈 below and we’ll send you the recording.

On this day in 1942, Anne Frank received a red-and-white diary for her 13th birthday.

She couldn't have known that her diary would become one of the most powerful and personal accounts of the Holocaust, giving voice to the experiences of Jewish people during World War II.

Anne Frank by Josephine Poole introduces Anne's life and legacy to a younger audience, and our Year 5 Writing Root helps pupils engage with her story in a meaningful way.

Take a look at these work samples from schools already using the Writing Root to explore Anne's short but remarkable life with their Year 5 classes.

Featured Schools: Holy Innocents Catholic Primary School | Brunswick Park Primary School | Sheringham Community Primary School | Noremarsh Junior School

Yesterday, Literacy Tree’s Lynn and Nicholas visited Knowles Primary, one of our flagship schools. 🌳🧑‍🏫

💬 Reflecting on the visit, Nicholas shared:
“What stood out most was the sense of pride radiating throughout the school, led by a leadership team committed to placing books at the heart of learning.”

It was wonderful to see a vibrant reading culture in action, with books woven into the fabric of everyday learning. High-quality texts sit at the heart of the curriculum, inspiring purposeful writing across the school. 📖✍️