Susan Brewster-Craig Development Officer Early Years Bradford Libraries Immersive Stories Susan Brewster-Craig Development Officer Early Years Presentation title (optional)

The bid Arts Council Libraries Opportunities For Everyone Innovation Fund To increase the number of children and adults with SEND (special educational needs and disability) accessing our libraries To work with Purple Patch (local charity working with children and adults with SEND) to use innovative approaches to engage non-literate audiences with literature To remove barriers to accessing libraries experienced by children and adults with SEND Presentation title (optional)

The bid To make 12 immersive literature kits to be used for 1:1 reading or group activities Training library staff to use the immersive kits Developing and delivering creative workshops with groups of children and adults with SEND Curating & delivering public sessions at public events e.g. National Libraries Week Establishing a steering group of national experts to develop a sustainability plan to disseminate practice nationally Presentation title (optional)

What we did Presentation title (optional) Trained 16 library staff including 4 volunteers Over three sessions Included: Disability awareness Introduction to using sensory story sacks Developing sensory story sacks Presentation title (optional)

What we did Presentation title (optional) Delivered sessions to 10 groups x 4 week sessions working with : Anything from 7 to 10 participants in a group Developed and delivered the interactive sensory sessions alongside Purple Patch using the following stories: Jane Eyre, Blyth Spirit, Mid-Summer Nights Dream & Under Milk Wood, The Hobbit, Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy, Harry Potter, Matilda, Gangster Granny, Cat In The Hat, We’re Going On A Bear Hunt, Shark In The Park, I Am Not Sleepy & I Will Not Go To Bed, The Great Dog Bottom Swap Further 10 groups had one off sessions for events including Bradford Festival, National Library Week, Children’s Book Week, World Book Day and Make a Noise in Libraries fortnight. Presentation title (optional)

small print but this is a great graphic! Did it work? I know you can’t see the small print but this is a great graphic! Presentation title (optional)

Did it work? Presentation title (optional) Outcomes for staff included: Gaining new skills Improved motivation and job satisfaction Gaining knowledge around issues for people with special educational needs and disabilities Breaking down barriers and making connections Stimulation of further creative initiatives Staff were keen to: Work with the new groups Try to implement the ideas into regular story times Make their own sensory stories (The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe) Incorporate small signing activities into story times Presentation title (optional)

Did it work? Presentation title (optional) Outcomes for participants included: Increased access to libraries and literature Improved communication and social skills Enjoyment and inspiration Gaining new skills and learning Outcomes for outside organisations: Meaningful new relationship with libraries Finding out what libraries can do for their students/clients Increased practitioner ideas for working with students/clients Presentation title (optional)

Did it work? Presentation title (optional) It was really good and the students really loved the sensory elements. Such a positive experience. It definitely helped the students communicate together and with the people they don’t know too. I’ve got so many new ideas to use back at the college. The students were so impressed they wanted to write their own “sensory story” and perform it for the library staff! – Keighley College Tutor One of the surprises is that some of the groups have told us they did not think they were allowed to come to Libraries. In part, because they were worried about making noise. Hopefully their experiences on the scheme will have dispelled any such thoughts. – Helen Green, Project Lead Immersive Stories Presentation title (optional)

What will happen now? Presentation title (optional) Library staff developing new sensory stories Loaning sensory stories and instructions out to organisations with children with special educational needs and disabilities Staff setting up new group for families with experience of autism Presentation title (optional)

Susan Brewster-Craig Development Officer: Early Yrs Shipley Library, 2 Well Croft, Shipley, BD18 3QH 01274 433684 susan.brewster-craig@bradford.gov.uk