Bucks Schools Audiobook Project 2024 - Phase 2

This project will bring Bucks Schools and the UK audiobook charity, Calibre Audio, together to offer reading support for students with print disabilities at both primary and secondary levels. It will take the form of an initial 12-week programme comprising:

·         guided reading groups in schools run by school staff using an audiobook version alongside a printed book

·         wider support for students to ‘read’ audiobooks for pleasure at home

Calibre Audio offers free membership for young people with a print disability who are under the age of 18 and those 18 and over who are still in full time education. This covers the following conditions:

·         A visual impairment

·         A learning disability such as dyslexia, autism, ADD or ADHD

·         A brain injury such as head trauma or stroke

·         Those suffering with long Covid

·         A physical dexterity problem such as Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neurone Disease, Parkinson’s, arthritis or paralysis,

·         Terminal illness or dementia.

Step 1

Complete the electronic School sign up form which can be found here: School sign up form

The lead teacher and the teacher taking the group sessions (if different) will then be set up with members' access to the My Calibre streaming site. This will enable you to play the audiobook out loud during the group sessions, either through the streaming website or through the Dolphin EasyReader app. The Calibre Membership Services Team will email all the details to the staff members named on the form.

Step 2

Identify the students taking part in each group - see qualifying criteria above. Please note: students do not need to have a formal diagnosis of dyslexia or ADHD. They will qualify if, in your opinion, they experience the difficulties associated with these conditions.

Step 3

Send letter home to parents: Parent letter template

The letter contains information about the project and a link to information about Calibre and using audiobooks to read for pleasure at home. It also contains a link to an electronic consent form which the parents need to complete in order for their child to take part in the project. There is also a link to a Parent Page on the Calibre Audio website where all this information is stored.

Step 4

Complete the Book Order Form to order in the printed copies of the books you plan to use in the guided reading sessions.

Please complete a separate order form for each group taking part and read the guidance for book ordering included on the form carefully.

Link to Book Order Form

If you have a query about book delivery, please contact Calibre's Membership Services Team on the details below.

Step 5

You will be able to access the electronic parent consent form for your school and see the completed responses using the collaborate link that has been shared with you. When parental consent has been received, please ask each participating student to complete the Pre-Project Reading Enjoyment Questionnaire. Each school also has a separate link to this form. Use the share link for the students to complete the form. Use the collaborate link to monitor and collate the responses.

Step 6

Create a document and record current reading levels and current expected progress for each student taking part. This may be shared anonymously at some point in the future to help measure the success of the project.

Step 7

Commence Sessions

Step 8

After 12 weeks - project finishes.

Step 9

Send Parent Questionnaire to parents of students (link will be sent to you)

Step 10

Ask each student to complete the Post-Project Reading Enjoyment Questionnaire and compare to first one. Use the share link on the links document sent to each school for Post-Project form.

Please Note: This questionnaire repeats the same core questions as the one completed before the project, but has two slightly different questions at the end, so please use the correct version.

Step 11

Ask staff involved in the groups to complete the Staff Questionnaire (link will be sent to you)

For further information, please contact: The Bucks ISEND Team on usha.askoolum@buckinghamshire.gov.uk.

or for Calibre related enquiries, please call 01296 432339 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday or email membershipservices@calibre.org.uk