School Visits

I’ve been visiting schools as a poet since about 2003, though ever more so since the publication of my first kids poetry collection, I Eat Squirrels, in 2009 and my first kids novel, Fizzlebert Stump the Boy Who Ran Away from the Circus (and Joined the Library), in 2012, and have been in hundreds of schools and spoken to thousands of children and staff in that time.

In normal circumstances I’d come visit your primary school for a whole day, starting with an assembly for everyone and then offering three or four hour-ish sessions with classes or year groups. Usually these would be interactive and inspirational poetry workshops of some sort, but I’m very happy to talk about my novels with classes that have been reading them and answer what questions I can.

A day visit like this costs £475, plus travel (by train from Reading, plus connections) and accommodation (if needed). The price includes four signed books for the school*.

However, during these interesting times I’ve also been offering virtual visits, which I’m going to continue, even as things (fingers-crossed) get better and safer out there in the real world…

Virtual Offer One

I will make a unique 10 minute personalised video for your school, suitable for an assembly or for a classroom. In it I’ll introduce myself, say hello to the school, pass along any messages you want, sing happy birthday to whoever you like, and perform two or three poems, just like I would in an assembly when I visit you for real. I’ll send by e-mail, some suggestions for ‘follow ups’ to the poems, a set of ‘prompts’ and tips that can help get kids writing their own work, and send by post two signed books (of your choice*) either for the school library, the classroom or to be used as prizes. All this for £70.

Virtual Offer Two

I will make a 45-60 minute virtual visit to your classroom, via Zoom, Microsoft Teams or a similar service of your choice, in which I will introduce myself, read some poems, talk about my books and answer questions (especially useful if you’ve been reading any of my books in class, for example). During the chat/Q&A/performance I may make some suggestions and share some tips on how to start your own bit of writing, but I will not run a formal workshop (I will send by e-mail my set of prompts and tips, as above). If there are any particular books of mine you wish me to talk about, please ask. (It is most fruitful to have your questions prepared before the session, so that you can sprinkle them throughout, rather than wait until the end and ask, ‘Does anyone want to ask our poet something?’) In addition to the live session, I’ll send you four signed books (of your choice*) either for the library or classroom or to be used as prizes. This costs £130.

Poems-on-a-Postcard Subscription

Elsewhere on this website (follow the link!) you’ll find me offer of sending 13 weekly small-handwritten-poems-on-postcards to whoever asks me to. A subscription costs £35, which, if you’re interested in folding into the school visit, either in advance or after (or both), I can include on the school visit invoice after the visit (rather than make you click the Paypal link (which I know can be awkward for a school to do)). Just ask.

If you think any of this might be of interest, use the form below to get in touch.

* Offer is for any of my paperback titles. Hardbacks available at £5 extra each (Midnight Feasts, The Book Of Not Entirely Useful Advice and The Worlds We Leave Behind are only available in hardback).