Why Low-Income Students Shouldn’t Be Put Off Studying Humanities
As the dust settles from GCSEs, students face a big step up to A-levels and a future career. For those from a family on a low income, a vocational route …
Educational Inequality
Breaking Barriers: How Alistair Simms Created a Dyslexia-Friendly Bookstore
The first book Alistair Simms ever read was one from the Harry Potter series. He was 13 at the time and, while he had listened to audio stories before, he’d …
The Importance of SEND Education In The UK: A Personal Story
In the fragile landscape of our education system, the quest for inclusivity and equality is a journey fraught with challenges. This blog post delves into the importance of Special Educational …
The Neurodiverse Employment Gap: The Unseen Force Behind Technology Companies’ Triumphs
We spoke to Dirk Mueller-Remus, founder of Auticon, about the challenges that neurodiverse people face in the workplace, education, and the technology industry. Back in 2008, Dirk Mueller-Remus, an IT …
Fighting Digital Poverty: A Look at the UK’s 11 Million Affected
11 million people in the UK are currently experiencing digital exclusion. That’s according to figures from the Digital Poverty Alliance (DPA), which was set up by the Learning Foundation in 2021 as a response to Covid.
Making A Lasting Impact: How To Donate Books To Underprivileged School Libraries
If you have a bunch of unused books lying around the house, you can give them a second life by donating them. We’ve prepared a guide on what books to donate and the best ways to prepare for a donation.
Boosting Language Proficiency: The Benefits of Reading In The Learning Journey of EAL Students
The term EAL (English Additional Language) describes children exposed to one or more languages other than English in their homes. In the UK, especially in low-income schools, EAL students face …
How To Discuss Family Diversity with Children: 5 Books To Start Conversation
Diversity is a very important topic to talk about if you want to help children develop empathy and respect for others. Here are some ideas to help you explain the beautiful diversity of families to your children.
Five Children’s Books To Talk About Refugees And Migration
Migration has been part of the human story for thousands of years. The reasons people migrate range from the simple to the complex; war, political persecution, famine or drought, reuniting …
Staying Safe Online: Children’s Books On Internet Safety
Understanding online safety is tricky for all ages. There is a wealth of books and resources available to help you make sure that your students and children know how to …
A shout out to 5 other fantastic book charities
Books2All is, of course, only one of many book charities aiming to improve access to quality reading experiences for children and adults in the UK. We don’t regard this as …
Educational insights from a female, mixed heritage teacher
I am a female teacher and leader from a mixed heritage background. My parents didn’t have access to quality education or the opportunity to complete their schooling. Therefore, while growing …
Books2All’s first book donations are underway!
Since our app went live on 2 May, Books2All has been busy organising our first book donations with London schools registered to use our service. We are delighted to tell …
Babies love books – they are an essential nursery resource
We often need to encourage children to read, but babies love books, and that’s because they associate books with closeness and warm relationships. The cosy, intimate snuggle we share with …
Books2All app is now live – thanks to those who made it happen!
It has taken a bit longer than expected, but the Books2All app is now LIVE! You can download it from the App Store and Google Play. We know you support …
Developing empathy in Early Years – a unique window of opportunity
Developing empathy in Early Years is crucial as it is a core component of our social and emotional skills. I am one of five founders of EmpathyLab, an organisation that …
Young Writers – how to read, write and publish sustainably
Young Writers started in 1991 out of a love of reading and writing. Since then, we’ve put our hearts into empowering avid young writers by giving them a platform to …
International Children’s Book Day 2022
International Children’s Book Day (ICBD) has been celebrated by The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) on 2 April every year since 1967 to inspire a love of …
World Down Syndrome Day 2022 – our top book choices
World Down Syndrome Day 2022 celebrated its tenth birthday on 21 March! World Down Syndrome Day advocates for inclusivity and the rights of those with Down syndrome. The United Nations …
Women’s History Month 2022 – celebrating across the genres
Women’s History Month 2022 seems extra poignant this year. Perhaps being aware of the turmoil people are enduring elsewhere in Europe makes it more important than ever to remember people …
Challenging the stigma: mental health in the classroom
If you discuss mental health in the classroom with people you know, some will reflect on their experiences and tell you that high school was hard. They might recall being …
What makes a good school library?
It isn’t easy to summarise what makes a good school library in just a few points, but here is a selection of what I believe are the key things to …
How much does literacy really affect career prospects?
Literacy is a lifelong skill. We might assume that good reading and writing abilities affect only certain career prospects, such as teaching, law and journalism. In reality, being literate helps …
Martin Luther King Day – let’s celebrate our freedom
Martin Luther King Day on 17 January each year commemorates the life of a man who changed America. It’s a day that celebrates inclusivity and diversity and reminds us that …
Q&A with Katie Carpenter, author of Going to Church
This week we talk to special educational needs author, Katie Carpenter Q. Hello Katie Carpenter, how are you? What have you been up to recently? Hello! I’m well, thank you. …
Grief Awareness Week 2021 – books to start the conversation
Children’s Grief Awareness Week 2021 runs from 18-25 November and Books2All is keen to encourage more conversations around childhood and adolescent grief. The Childhood Bereavement Network reports that 78% of …
My journey from free school meals to university
When I started secondary school in September 2005, you queued every morning for a ‘dinner ticket’ if you were on free school meals. It wasn’t a digitised system then. On …
I live with ADHD, and I believe that nature made us different for a reason
I am pleased to share my thoughts with you for ADHD Awareness Month. As a child, I didn’t know I had ADHD, and because I was academically gifted, I could …
Black History Month – proud to be sharing two of my favourite Black authors
The theme of Black History Month this year is ‘Proud to be’. Hopefully, my book choices exemplify how literature can celebrate and commemorate Black history in a uniquely personal way. …
Our revolutionary Books2All app goes live on 22 November!
Oops! Well that didn’t happen… Although our lovely Books2All app IS ready to go, there are some delays with making it available on the app stores. We do apologise and …
Reading for dyslexia – early detection can reduce a child’s anxiety around learning to read
My debut piece for Books2All on reading for dyslexia coincides with Dyslexia Week. As an educator who consults on learning, teaching and assessment strategies in higher education, I am familiar …
Girls with autism need gender-specific support to reach their full potential
My most recent book, Girls and Autism, discusses why we do not cater well for girls with autism. For far too long, autism has been considered a male-orientated condition. Initial …
Books2All one year on – happy birthday to us!
As I look back over the year since Books2All became a registered charity, I scarcely feel the need to mention that a lot has changed since then. While it’s true …
How children with vision impairment ‘find themselves’ in a book
We are all familiar with the idea of ‘losing yourself’ in a story. However, for a child with vision impairment, this process of becoming so deeply engrossed in what you …
The Reading Agency – how the gift of a book can change a life
The Reading Agency strives for a world where everyone reads their way to a better life. We tackle life’s big challenges through the proven power of reading1, focusing on three …
Why the Public Library Children and Young People’s Promise is vital
Making a difference to children’s lives has always been at the heart of the public library offer. So much so, that the sector has created a promise that outlines the …
For a career in marketing, why does your child need to read and write well?
As someone who had a career in marketing from 1990-2020 – exactly 30 years – I shall challenge my own literary skills and attempt to answer this. No prizes for …
Why our school library is the heart of the school
Before I explain how our school library is the heart of the school, I need to take you back to May 2017. I started my role as reading engagement coordinator …
Books about LGBTQ+ make all the difference to children
A love of reading is a gift all children and young people deserve, but books about LGBTQ+ play a particular role for those who are lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, …
How can we develop empathy in a child?
How can we develop empathy in a child? Through reading. It’s no secret that reading helps children do better at school, have better outcomes and navigate the complexities of everyday …
Can reading improve mental health?
(CONTENT WARNING: Mention of mental illness, depression and anxiety) As we near the start of Mental Health Awareness Week, it’s a good time to ponder can reading improve mental health? …
Reading books for autistic children will help spark their imagination
For World Autism Awareness Month, I have been asked to share with you our family’s favourite reading books for autistic children. Our son and daughter – now aged 13 and 11 …
Accessible books for students with disabilities are relevant to all children
I am passionate about accessible books for students with disabilities. As a teacher, special educational needs coordinator (SENCO) and vice-principal of an academy, I want to ensure that books are …
Inclusive books for primary school foster understanding and acceptance
In my work, I think about inclusive books for primary school and inclusive books generally. The words “Representation is not a privilege, it’s a right” are pinned boldly to my …
6 of the best study resources for all key stages
As schools across the country reopen, pupils face the challenge of readjusting to the normal rhythms of in-person teaching. Finding the best study resources can be hard, so we at …
Children’s interest in STEM subjects starts with a love of books
It’s British Science Week and writing about STEM subjects has taken me down memory lane. I was starting the sixth form when I realised that engineering could be the career …
Literacy skills in engineering and why they are needed in the workplace
Working as a civil engineer, I use literacy skills in engineering every day, but I don’t always need to use maths. Maybe that surprises you. I certainly did a doubletake …
Why school libraries are important and why having one is a complete no-brainer
I’m currently Vice-Chair of the Great School Libraries Campaign. We have investigated why school libraries are important and our research has found that one in eight schools has no library …
For teaching SEND pupils, books are irreplaceable
Teaching SEND pupils, or those with special educational needs and disabilities is the most rewarding job I have ever had. The smallest steps forward fill you with pride, and you …
Is virtual reality the future of education?
To consider the question: is virtual reality the future of education, we need to imagine a time when teachers are more like mentors, guiding their students through a personalised development …
Teaching reading to deaf children – because they love books too!
I was only 18 when I began teaching reading to deaf children, but I quickly realised there was a serious lack of books they could easily access when they started …
The best digital learning resources for teachers
Books2All has given some thought to what the best digital learning resources are. Every child should have the right to access a broad range of texts freely and easily. As …
What are schools like in Nepal?
I was asking myself what are schools like in Nepal the year I decided to volunteer with a Nepalise charity. It was with a charity called the Mountain Trust during …
Educational privilege – the undeniable link between inequality and access to books
(CONTENT WARNING: Mention of suicide, post-traumatic stress disorder, sexual assault and abuse) Much has been spoken recently about ‘privilege’ generally and not just educational privilege. Not as a word rolling …
Why I decided to study GCSEs from home
Nine years ago, I decided to study GCSEs from home and not continue my education in school. After living abroad for a few years, I had just returned to the …
The perils of international education
I have worked in international education, but I am not an educator. I do not have a PGCE or any teaching experience to speak of – other than occasional classroom …
Educational inequality in the UK – 7 shocking statistics
Educational inequality in the UK is a disparity that exists in both the private and state education systems. The private sector attracts wealthier families who can afford to send their …