Sophie Kirtley, Author Visits, School Events, Teachers, Reading for Pleasure

Events for Schools

One of the things I love most about being a children’s author is meeting readers. Whether in real life or virtual, my sessions are fun, inclusive and interactive.

What can I offer?

I am able to offer both Real Life Visits (COVID regulations allowing) and Virtual Visits.

Formats could include:

Whole School Assembly
Small Group Presentations
Creative Writing Workshops
Performed Readings/Storytelling/Poetry
Question and Answer sessions
Book Signings

All sessions will be interactive, informative and fun, allowing children to ask questions and get involved.

Although my main readership is probably KS2 I am just as comfortable adapting what I do to suit KS1 and also KS3 students. Just let me know what you need and we can chat about how to make it work.

What themes or topics can I cover?

You could choose from these sessions:

Journey to the Stone Age – I’ll invite your children to step back into the Stone Age as I share some of the weird and wonderful discoveries I made while researching my books. I’ll also chat about the prehistoric world as I imagined it...and the choices I made as an author.

Wild Reading…Wild Writing – An exploration of wonders of the natural world - the animals and wildlife we love to read and write about. What does wildness bring to a story? And how can we make our own stories go wild too?

An Island of Stories - Children will learn all about the wild islands that inspire my books and embark upon an exciting adventure to create their very own story island.

NEW: Reading for Empathy - an interactive workshop focusing on how books and stories can help us walk in other people's shoes. Based on the valuable work of Empathy Lab UK

…or… chat to me about what YOU need!

I want all children to come away feeling inspired and excited – that’s the main thing – so I’d be delighted to discuss my visit with you and will endeavour to fit my session to suit your needs.

Please contact me to discuss your school visit and for further information about fees and availability.

Find out more about Empathy Lab UK here

Get in touch to find out more!

"Thank you so much. You engaged all of the children (and adults!!) in your talk and you pitched it at exactly the right level. Some of the children who asked questions were children who had gone through phases of disengagement towards reading and this may be all they need to reignite that spark as well as those who are budding authors. "

Victoria Gallagher, Head Teacher, Invicta Primary School

"Thank you so much for the most incredible session yesterday. We LOVED it! The children were so engaged and inspired, producing some lovely imaginative discussion and work throughout the rest of the day. You really captured their imagination."

Fiona Risner-Green, Year 3 Teacher, Yavneh Primary School

“Thank you so much for your virtual visit to our class. The kids were thrilled to meet you and it was so nice for them to understand that authors are real people who care that children read and enjoy their books. To be able to ask a real author questions about their book and the writing process was so valuable…the children really were inspired and many of them began to see themselves as authors.”

"Thank you so much for the most incredible session yesterday. We LOVED it! The children were so engaged and inspired, producing some lovely imaginative discussion and work throughout the rest of the day. You really captured their imagination."

Fiona Risner-Green, Year 3 Teacher, Yavneh Primary School

Lesley Hilditch, Year 3 Teacher, Pontesbury Primary School