PURPOSEFUL WRITING
Pupils are writing towards a genuine outcome rather than simply completing another worksheet or classroom task.
STORYTIME FOR EDUCATION
✦
THE YOUNG
AUTHOR INITIATIVE
A creative writing and publishing initiative designed to give pupils something extraordinary to work towards: their own professionally printed storybook.
Storytime takes pupils from the first idea on the page through writing, illustrating and finally publishing their story as a real book they can hold, share and keep.
WRITE IT
DRAW IT
PUBLISH IT
THE IDEA
FROM “I WROTE A STORY”
TO “I AM AN AUTHOR.”
The Young Author Initiative gives pupils a clear creative project with a meaningful end result. Rather than completing an exercise that is filed away, their words and illustrations become a professionally produced book.
01
CREATE
An original story from their own imagination.
02
COMPLETE
A structured project with a clear finishing point.
03
PUBLISH
Their work becomes a professionally printed book.
04
CELEBRATE
A tangible achievement to keep and proudly share.
DESIGNED TO BE FLEXIBLE
WHY IT WORKS WELL
FOR VIRTUAL SCHOOLS
The initiative can be delivered to pupils across different schools, homes and settings, without everyone needing to complete the project in the same place or at the same time.
PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT
Every finished book is individual to its author, creating an opportunity to recognise their creativity, persistence and ideas.
FLEXIBLE DELIVERY
Suitable for projects completed at school, at home, with carers or as part of a wider Virtual School initiative.
DIFFERENT STARTING POINTS
The creative process can be adapted according to age, writing confidence and the level of support a pupil needs.
CHILD-LED CREATIVITY
There is no single correct story. Children can create characters, settings and worlds that genuinely interest them.
SOMETHING TO KEEP
The project doesn't end when the writing does. The finished story becomes a physical book that can remain with the pupil.
SIMPLE TO DELIVER
HOW THE INITIATIVE
WORKS
Storytime provides the framework and publishing process. Pupils provide the imagination.
01
PLAN
CHOOSE YOUR COHORT
We agree the number of participating pupils and the most appropriate delivery format for your Virtual School.
02
CREATE
WRITE THE STORY
Pupils use the Storytime resources to develop characters, plan their story and write their own original adventure.
03
IMAGINE
ILLUSTRATE IT
They bring the story to life with their own drawings, cover artwork and illustrations.
04
SUBMIT
SEND IT TO STORYTIME
Completed pages are uploaded through the Storytime publishing process ready for production.
05
PUBLISH
WE CREATE THEIR BOOK
Their handwritten words and illustrations are transformed into a professionally produced 8 × 10 inch storybook.
✓
CELEBRATE
MEET YOUR YOUNG AUTHOR
The pupil receives something they created from beginning to end: a real book with their own name as the author.
MORE THAN A WRITING EXERCISE
THEIR IDEAS.
THEIR HANDWRITING.
THEIR BOOK.
One of the most important parts of Storytime is that the finished book still feels like the child's work.
Their own words, drawings and imagination remain at the centre of the finished publication. The aim isn't to replace their creativity with something polished by an adult — it is to give their creativity a platform worthy of celebrating.
THE PACKAGE
WHAT PARTICIPATING
PUPILS RECEIVE
Delivery can be adapted depending on the cohort, budget and level of support required.
CORE INITIATIVE
CREATE + PUBLISH
- Story planning resources Simple tools to help turn an idea into a beginning, middle and ending.
- Writing and illustration pages Space for pupils to create the words and artwork for their own story.
- Step-by-step guidance Designed to make the creative process manageable from blank page to completed story.
- Storytime publishing Completed work is prepared and professionally produced as a real book.
- Finished author copy A physical 8 × 10 inch book for the pupil to keep, share and celebrate.
ENGLISH + CREATIVITY
A REAL PURPOSE
FOR WRITING
The project naturally creates opportunities to practise many of the skills involved in story writing, while keeping the child's own ideas at the centre.
CHARACTER CREATION
STORY STRUCTURE
SETTINGS
SEQUENCING
VOCABULARY
DESCRIPTION
DRAFTING
EDITING
HANDWRITING
ILLUSTRATION
PRESENTATION
CREATIVE THINKING
✦
The objective is not for every child to create the “perfect” story. It is for every interested pupil to have the opportunity to create something that is genuinely theirs and experience the achievement of seeing it finished.
OPTIONAL ADD-ON
YOUR OWN
DIGITAL LIBRARY
The project doesn't have to end when the books arrive.
Participating stories can also form part of a dedicated digital bookshelf, creating a place to celebrate the work produced across your cohort.
01
Showcase participating young authors
02
Bring books from different settings together
03
Create an ongoing record of the initiative
BUILT AROUND YOUR COHORT
ONE INITIATIVE.
DIFFERENT WAYS TO RUN IT.
There is no requirement for every Virtual School to run the project in exactly the same way.
01
TARGETED PLACES
Offer funded places to selected pupils who you feel would particularly engage with a creative project.
02
COHORT PROJECT
Run the initiative across a defined group or age range and celebrate the finished books together.
03
HOLIDAY CHALLENGE
Position the project as a creative challenge that pupils can complete flexibly outside the normal school timetable.
04
ONGOING ACCESS
Keep places available throughout the year and allocate them as suitable pupils are identified.
FOR YOUR TEAM
DESIGNED TO BE
STRAIGHTFORWARD
We can discuss the most practical way to organise distribution, submissions and finished books around the structure of your Virtual School.
1
Agree pupil numbers
→
2
Distribute resources
→
3
Pupils create
→
4
Stories submitted
→
5
Storytime publishes
→
6
Young authors receive their books
BUDGET + FUNDING
LET'S BUILD IT
AROUND YOUR SCHOOL.
The priority is to make the initiative accessible to as many interested pupils as possible while providing a meaningful finished outcome.
Cohort size, physical or digital delivery and the wider publishing package can therefore be discussed according to your requirements and available budget.
★
COULD YOUR NEXT
START A CONVERSATION
COULD YOUR NEXT
YOUNG AUTHOR BE
WAITING TO BEGIN?
If you would like to explore the Young Author Initiative for pupils supported by your Virtual School, I'd be very happy to discuss cohort size, delivery and budget.
DISCUSS THE INITIATIVE → tom@storytimeshop.com