Training courses and discussion groups
Download a booking form for any of our courses
Fiction Discussion Groups
“Book Talk” book discussion group for teachers and school librarians, to help you keep up to date with new fiction for children. Each group meets termly after school. The meetings are free of charge for schools that buy in to the SLS Standard Service. For Menu and opt-out schools, there is a small charge of £15.00 per term.
Northern Area - two venues, Halesworth and Bungay (for 4-11 primary schools and 9-13 middle schools). Next meeting: Tuesday 12 June, 4.00pm at Halesworth Middle School, Wednesday 13 June 2012, 4.00pm at Bungay Middle School. Books to be discussed: "Peter Nimble and his fantastic eyes" by jonathan Auxier, "Poppy's hero" by Rachel Billington, "Twelve minutes to midnight" by Christopher Edge, "Paw prints in the snow" by Sally Grindley and "The whizz pop chocolate shop" by Kate Saunders. Contact: Jacky Offord to book a place. Tel: 01502 512816
Southern Area - Ipswich (for 4-11 primary schools). Next meeting: Wednesday 16 May 2012 at Ipswich Schools Library Service (please see map for location). Books to be discussed: "Stitch Head" by Guy Bass, "One dog and his boy" by Eva Ibbotson and "A Million Angels" by Kate Maryon. Contact: Paul Cunningham to book a place. Tel: 01473 583507
Western Area Middle - Bury. Next meeting: Thursday 14 June 2012, 3.30pm, venue to be confirmed. Books to be discussed: "Stitch Head" by Guy Bass, "One dog and his boy" by Eva Ibbotson, "The Court Painter's Apprentice" by Richard Knight, "Six words and a wish" by Karen McCrombie, "A Million Angels" by Kate Maryon and "Moon Pie" by Simon Mason. Contact: Paul Cunningham to book a place. Tel: 01473 583507
Training courses
We offer a range of training and INSET courses, both for school librarians and for teachers and other school staff with a responsibility for the library in their school.
Book-buying trips to Peters Bookselling Services Accompanied visits to the SLS’ book supplier, Peters Bookselling Services, in Birmingham. Peters are the leading supplier of children’s books in the UK, and visitors have the opportunity to select from a huge range of stock. Books are supplied and invoiced at 22 percent discount. As selection is made from items in stock, supply is guaranteed. Peters also offer a processing service, where they can fit plastic jackets and add Dewey classification numbers to books (for a small per book charge)
Cost: £25 (to cover transport costs) for subscribing schools, £30 for non-subscribing schools. Transport will be in a people carrier or car. Peters provide a complimentary lunch
Pick ups: are available from either Ipswich SLS at 6.45am or Bury SLS at 7.30am. (NB Northern Area schools - transport is available from Bungay, departing at 6.30am, please check before booking)
Next trip date: 4 July 2012.
The Forum for Library Assistants in primary Schools (F.L.A.P.S.) Termly meetings for primary school library staff and volunteers working in the school library. Offering opportunities to see another primary school library, network with other school library staff, exchange ideas and information, share good practice, discuss specific training requirements and update skills. Suitable for library assistants, teaching assistants and volunteers.
Southern Area Date: Tuesday 10 July 2012, 9.30am - 12noon
Venue: Melton Primary School
Northern Area Date: Thursday 10 May 2012
Venue: Schools Library Service, Lowestoft
Cost: free for schools subscribing to SLS; £15 for schools not subscribing to SLS
Contact: Jacky Offord to book a place. Tel: 01502 512816
Support Group for middle school library assistants Termly meetings for middle school library staff and volunteers working in the school library. Offering opportunities to see another middle school library, network with other school library staff, exchange ideas and information, share good practice, discuss specific training requirements and update skills. Suitable for library assistants, teaching assistants and volunteers.
Northern Area Date: Tuesday 12 June 2012, 1.30pm – 3.00pm
Venue: Schools Library Service, Lowestoft
Contact: Jacky Offord to book a place. Tel: 01502 512816
Western Area Date: Thursday 14 June 2012, 1.30pm – 3.00pm
Venue: to be confirmed
Contact: Paul Cunningham to book a place. Tel: 01473 583507
Cost: free for schools subscribing to SLS; £15 for schools not subscribing to SLS
I need a story now! Creating a stimulating story space for the under 5s
This course covers: creating the environment; making story sacks and boxes, storytelling techniques; ideas for extending the story; the top 100 books, situation books and special books.
When: Tuesday 19 June 2012, 10:00am - 1:00pm
Where: Ipswich Schools Library Service
Cost: £75.00 for schools who subsribe to SLS, £90.00 for non- subscribers
Contact: Jacky Offord on 01502 512816
We don't have any money! Running a school library in times of financial restraint
Reading for pleasure and purpose continue to be key factors in creating lively and enthusiastic young readers. However limited school budgets make it ever harder than ever to provide a dynamic and exciting school library. This course doesn't claim to have all the answers but will provide strategies and suggestions to help your library develop and maintain currency and relevance.
When: Wednesday 30 May 2012, 10.00am - 1.00pm
Where: West Suffolk House, Western Way, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 3YU
Cost: £75.00 for schools who subscribe to SLS, £90.00 for non-subscribers
Contact: Jacky Offord on 01502 512816
A Reason to Read: Promoting great fiction in your primary school
This course will help you to build up a good working knowledge of contemporary children's books, giving ideas on how to become informed and maintain your knowledge base, and how to share your enthusiasm with both pupils and colleagues. Suitable for any primary school staff who would like to improve their knowledge of children's literature.
When: Monday 21 May 2012, 10:00am - 1.00pm
Where: Schools Library Service, Ipswich
Cost: £75.00 for schools who subscribe to SLS, £90.00 for non-subscribers
Contact: Jacky Offord on 01502 512816
Traditional Tales: Bringing traditional tales to life through creative activities
This course is aimed at Reception and KS1 teachers and teaching assistants. It will look at how to use dance and drama based on traditional tales and give ideas for storytelling and storymaking.
When: Thursday 28 June 2012, 10:00am - 1:00pm
Where: to be confirmed, in Ipswich area
Cost: £75.00 for schools who subscribe to SLS, £90.00 for non-subscribers
Contact: Jacky Offord on 01502 512816
County Training Day for High and Upper School Librarians: Timelines - using local history and archive resources
This is an opportunity to dicover or re-discover the range of resources held in Suffolk Record Office (SRO), including archives, online information and searchroom facilities, The day will have a practical focus with time to explore collections, websites and talk to SRO staff about the services provided that can help you support the curriculum in your schools.
When: Friday 6 July 2012, 10.00am - 3.15pm (lunch provided)
Where: Lowestoft Library
Cost: Free for high and upper schools who subscribe to SLS, £50.00 for middle schools who subscribe to SLS and £175.00 for non-subscribers
Contact: Jacky Offord on 01502 512816
Download a booking form for any of our courses
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