Improving children’s reading and writing: Connecting research and practice Four online sessions focusing on children's reading and writing will take place in November and December from 4pm - 5pm. These sessions are designed for UK primary school teachers, primary school leaders, literacy leads and education consultants. Participants will gain insight into contemporary research with its implications for practice, a curated collection of key open access research articles and, if all four sessions are attended, a certificate of completion.Sessions can be booked individually for £15 each or all four sessions can be booked at a discounted price of £50. Sessions overview Session 1: Learning to read - Thursday 20 November 2025, 16:00-17:00pm Delivered by Sarah McGeownThis session highlights the core skills underpinning reading development, research-informed practice to support children’s word reading, and the importance of nurturing an early love and interest in books, words, and stories. Session 2: Reading motivation and engagement - Thursday 27 November 2025, 16:00-17:00pm Delivered by Sarah McGeownThis session provides insight into the importance of reading motivation and engagement throughout primary school, research-informed principles to support reading engagement, and the reading, language, social and emotional benefits accrued from reading.Session 3: Learning to write - Thursday 4 December 2025, 16:00-17:00pm Delivered by Ross YoungThis session explores key aspects of writing development, research-informed strategies to support children as apprentice writers, and the importance of nurturing a lifelong love of writing.Session 4: Writing motivation and engagement - Thursday 11 December 2025, 16:00-17:00pm Delivered by Ross YoungThis session provides insight into the importance of writing motivation and engagement throughout primary school, research-informed principles to support children’s engagement with writing, and the social, emotional, and expressive benefits gained through the experience of being a young writer. Bios Professor Sarah McGeown is Director of the University of Edinburgh’s Literacy Lab. She has published widely in academic and professional journals, with research focusing on early reading acquisition and development to motivation and engagement in reading. She is an advocate for research-practice partners and closing the gap between research and practice to improve children’s reading experiences and outcomes. Literacy LabRoss Young is a former primary school teacher and co-founder of The Writing for Pleasure Centre. His work focuses on translating writing research into effective classroom practice, and he regularly collaborates with teachers and children in schools. He has written several books on teaching writing and leads professional development through organisations such as the UKLA. Ross is currently a PhD researcher at the University of Edinburgh’s Literacy Lab, studying children’s writing lives in partnership with the National Literacy Trust. The Writing for Pleasure Centre Book single workshop(s) Book all four workshops Tags Professional learning Nov 20 2025 16.00 - Dec 11 2025 17.00 Improving children’s reading and writing: Connecting research and practice This series of short professional learning sessions are designed to provide research insights to support children’s reading and writing acquisition and development. With a focus on supporting both reading and writing skill, all those attending will have greater access and insight into contemporary research to inform their classroom practice. Sessions will be delivered online.
Improving children’s reading and writing: Connecting research and practice Four online sessions focusing on children's reading and writing will take place in November and December from 4pm - 5pm. These sessions are designed for UK primary school teachers, primary school leaders, literacy leads and education consultants. Participants will gain insight into contemporary research with its implications for practice, a curated collection of key open access research articles and, if all four sessions are attended, a certificate of completion.Sessions can be booked individually for £15 each or all four sessions can be booked at a discounted price of £50. Sessions overview Session 1: Learning to read - Thursday 20 November 2025, 16:00-17:00pm Delivered by Sarah McGeownThis session highlights the core skills underpinning reading development, research-informed practice to support children’s word reading, and the importance of nurturing an early love and interest in books, words, and stories. Session 2: Reading motivation and engagement - Thursday 27 November 2025, 16:00-17:00pm Delivered by Sarah McGeownThis session provides insight into the importance of reading motivation and engagement throughout primary school, research-informed principles to support reading engagement, and the reading, language, social and emotional benefits accrued from reading.Session 3: Learning to write - Thursday 4 December 2025, 16:00-17:00pm Delivered by Ross YoungThis session explores key aspects of writing development, research-informed strategies to support children as apprentice writers, and the importance of nurturing a lifelong love of writing.Session 4: Writing motivation and engagement - Thursday 11 December 2025, 16:00-17:00pm Delivered by Ross YoungThis session provides insight into the importance of writing motivation and engagement throughout primary school, research-informed principles to support children’s engagement with writing, and the social, emotional, and expressive benefits gained through the experience of being a young writer. Bios Professor Sarah McGeown is Director of the University of Edinburgh’s Literacy Lab. She has published widely in academic and professional journals, with research focusing on early reading acquisition and development to motivation and engagement in reading. She is an advocate for research-practice partners and closing the gap between research and practice to improve children’s reading experiences and outcomes. Literacy LabRoss Young is a former primary school teacher and co-founder of The Writing for Pleasure Centre. His work focuses on translating writing research into effective classroom practice, and he regularly collaborates with teachers and children in schools. He has written several books on teaching writing and leads professional development through organisations such as the UKLA. Ross is currently a PhD researcher at the University of Edinburgh’s Literacy Lab, studying children’s writing lives in partnership with the National Literacy Trust. The Writing for Pleasure Centre Book single workshop(s) Book all four workshops Tags Professional learning Nov 20 2025 16.00 - Dec 11 2025 17.00 Improving children’s reading and writing: Connecting research and practice This series of short professional learning sessions are designed to provide research insights to support children’s reading and writing acquisition and development. With a focus on supporting both reading and writing skill, all those attending will have greater access and insight into contemporary research to inform their classroom practice. Sessions will be delivered online.
Nov 20 2025 16.00 - Dec 11 2025 17.00 Improving children’s reading and writing: Connecting research and practice This series of short professional learning sessions are designed to provide research insights to support children’s reading and writing acquisition and development. With a focus on supporting both reading and writing skill, all those attending will have greater access and insight into contemporary research to inform their classroom practice.
