Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Book Crafters. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Get in touch, we’re happy to help.
For Headteachers & School Leaders
Book Crafters is a six-week cross-curricular programme that guides pupils through the process of becoming published digital authors. Students write original stories (or reimagine classics), create illustrations, record narrations and sound effects, and publish their work as professionally formatted e-books, audiobooks, and interactive apps. The programme includes two lessons per week, with everything provided – lesson plans, resources, and staff CPD.
Book Crafters provides strong evidence across all four inspection areas:
Quality of Education:Â Ambitious, coherent, cross-curricular planning.
Behaviour and Attitudes:Â High engagement, reduced absenteeism, and built resilience.
Personal Development:Â Creativity, teamwork, digital citizenship, and emotional literacy.
Leadership and Management:Â Safeguarding, moderated content, and innovative curriculum design.
Book Crafters is designed to be affordable and accessible. Costs vary depending on group size, delivery format (whole class, small groups, or after-school club), and whether you require additional in-school support. We offer a pilot option to start with one class, with flexible pricing to suit your budget. Many schools also fund the programme through Pupil Premium, recovery funding, or external grants. Contact us for a bespoke quote.
Absolutely. We recommend starting with a pilot to see the impact firsthand. You can run the programme with a single class, evaluate the outcomes, and then scale across year groups or as an enrichment club. We’ll support you every step of the way.
Very little. Book Crafters uses free, widely available apps: Audacity (audio editing) and Canva (graphic design). You’ll need access to devices – school computers, tablets, or a BYOD (bring your own device) approach works well. Headphones or microphones are helpful for recording but not essential. We provide full guidance on setup.
Safeguarding is built into every stage. We provide guidance on copyright, digital footprints, and ethical technology use. All published work is moderated, and we ensure GDPR-compliant processes. Parental consent templates are included, and we advise on safe sharing practices for final outputs.
For Teachers
Yes. You don’t need to be a tech specialist. We provide:
A 1-hour CPD session covering all the tools and approaches.
Step-by-step lesson plans and task cards.
Ongoing support if you need it.
Teachers consistently tell us they’re surprised by how quickly they (and their pupils) pick up the skills.
None. Everything is provided: detailed lesson plans for twelve sessions, task cards, editable templates, parental consent forms, and assessment rubrics. You can focus on teaching and watching your pupils shine.
Inclusion is central to the programme. Book Crafters offers multiple entry points:
Writers craft the narrative.
Illustrators bring scenes to life.
Narrators and voice actors develop oracy.
Sound engineers curate audio.
Editors polish the final product.
For children with dyslexia, the multi-sensory approach (audio, art, collaboration) removes barriers. For children who lack confidence, there are supportive roles that build skills gradually. Every child contributes meaningfully.
Book Crafters is explicitly mapped to the National Curriculum across:
English:Â Composition, spoken language, reading comprehension, peer evaluation.
Computing:Â Creating media, digital literacy, file management.
Art & Design:Â Developing ideas, using digital tools, visual communication.
PSHE:Â Collaboration, empathy, online safety.
Science:Â Links to sound (recording) and materials (illustration resources).
We provide simple, effective assessment tools:
Pre- and post-writing samples to demonstrate literacy progress.
Digital skill rubrics for computing outcomes.
Observation prompts for oracy, collaboration, and resilience.
The final published products themselves – powerful evidence for pupil progress meetings, parent evenings, and subject leader reviews.
We’ve designed Book Crafters to be low-tech and flexible. If a device fails, pupils can work on illustrations, scripts, or planning. If software glitches, we provide troubleshooting guidance. Most teachers find that pupils become the tech experts – they love solving problems and helping each other.
"When a child hears their own story read aloud, something magical happens. They believe."
For Parents
Book Crafters is a school project where children become published authors. Over six weeks, your child will work with classmates to create a digital book. They might write the story, draw illustrations, record their voice reading parts of it, or add sound effects. At the end, the book is professionally formatted and shared with families.
No. Everything is done in school using free apps and school devices. If you’d like to support at home, you can talk with your child about their story, help them think of sound effects (a rain stick, footsteps), and celebrate their milestones. That’s it.
Absolutely. Book Crafters is designed so every child can succeed, whatever their strengths. Some children write. Others illustrate. Others narrate or design sound effects. For children who find handwriting or spelling difficult, recording their voice or drawing scenes removes the barrier. Every child finds a role they can be proud of.
Creating something real – with their name on it – is incredibly powerful. Children see that their ideas matter. They hear their own voice in an audiobook. They watch their illustrations become part of a published book. For many, it’s the first time they’ve felt like a “real” author or creator. Parents consistently tell us they’ve seen a boost in confidence that carries into other areas of school and home life.
Yes. The programme ends with a Book Premiere – a celebration where families are invited to see the finished work. You’ll be able to scan QR codes, listen to narrations, view illustrations, and take home digital copies of your child’s book. It’s a proud moment for the whole family.
No. The finished books are digital – e-books, audiobooks, and interactive apps. You’ll be able to keep them on your phone, share them with grandparents, and revisit them anytime. They don’t gather dust. They become treasured keepsakes.
For Schools: Logistics & Support
Six weeks, with two lessons per week. Each lesson lasts approximately 45–60 minutes, depending on your timetable. The programme is flexible and can be adapted to fit your school’s schedule.
Book Crafters is adaptable to any group size:
Whole class:Â Perfect for a KS1 or KS2 class working together on a shared project or in small groups.
Small groups:Â Ideal for targeted intervention or enrichment.
After-school club:Â A great way to offer creative opportunities beyond the curriculum.
We provide everything:
Detailed lesson plans (12 sessions).
Task cards for pupils.
Editable storyboard and script templates.
Parental consent forms.
Digital skill rubrics and assessment tools.
A 1-hour CPD session for staff.
Ongoing email support.
Yes. Every Book Crafters programme includes a 1-hour CPD session delivered to your staff. We cover the tools (Audacity, Canva), the lesson structure, assessment approaches, and tips for managing the project smoothly. The session can be delivered in person or remotely.
You’ll receive professionally formatted multimedia books ready to share. Depending on your chosen format, this includes:
E-books (PDF or EPUB).
Audiobooks (MP3 files).
Interactive apps (if selected).
QR codes linking to all outputs for easy sharing.
A digital showcase for your school website or parent portal.
Absolutely. That’s the whole point. We encourage a Book Premiere event where families can celebrate the children’s work. You can also share the books on your school website, newsletter, or social media (with appropriate permissions). Many schools also invite local media to cover the event, showcasing their innovative approach.
The programme is designed to be sustainable. Once your staff are trained, you can run Book Crafters again independently, using the resources provided. The skills pupils develop also transfer to other creative projects – podcasts, digital newspapers, coding clubs – making it a foundation for ongoing digital creativity across your school.
"A worksheet gets marked, filed, and forgotten.
A published book gets shared, celebrated, and remembered.
Book Crafters is a choice: between work that ends in a drawer and work that ends in a legacy."
Funding & Costs
Yes. Book Crafters is an excellent use of Pupil Premium funding. It directly addresses key barriers faced by disadvantaged pupils: literacy gaps, lack of enrichment, low confidence, limited oracy skills, and digital exclusion. The programme provides tangible outcomes and measurable progress.
Yes. Book Crafters aligns with the priorities of numerous grant-making bodies, including Arts Council England, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, National Lottery Community Fund, Nominet, and many more. We provide full support for grant applications, including alignment statements, project plans, and letters of support. See our Funding & Grants page for more details.
After-school club pricing is flexible and depends on group size, duration, and whether you’re running it independently or with our support. Contact us for a bespoke quote tailored to your setting.
