Author Visits for Schools: A Practical Guide for UK Primary Teachers
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Author visits for schools give children a memorable chance to meet the person behind a story, ask questions and explore ideas beyond the page. For UK primary teachers, a well-planned visit can bring speaking and listening, reading, creativity, culture and identity into one joyful learning experience.
At The Nubian Princesses, storytelling is rooted in helping children feel seen and proud. Our school workshops and author visits bring together culturally inspired stories, discussion and creative activities, helping children explore confidence, identity and African heritage in an age-appropriate way.
What are author visits for schools?
An author visit is a session in which children meet a writer or creator and engage with the stories, characters and ideas behind their work. It can take place in a school library, classroom, hall or community setting, and may include storytelling, a talk about the creative process, pupil questions and a related activity.
For pupils, author visits for schools make books feel connected to real people and real creative choices. Instead of only receiving a finished story, children can hear how an idea became a character, a book or a wider learning experience.
The most useful primary author visits are not simply assemblies. They are planned around the age of the children, the school day and a clear learning focus, such as imaginative storytelling, listening, self-expression or a topic within PSHE.
What children may experience during a visit
- Listening to storytelling and joining a guided discussion
- Meeting the author or creator behind books and characters
- Sharing questions, thoughts and creative responses
- Taking part in reading, reflection, colouring or other hands-on activities
- Exploring themes that connect stories with everyday life
Why author visits for schools can support primary learning
Children learn through participation. When a visitor invites them to listen closely, reflect, speak and create, the session can offer several ways to engage, including for pupils who may not usually put their hand up during a standard literacy lesson.
National Literacy Trust research published in 2023 found that 58.6% of children and young people who had experienced an author visit said they enjoyed reading in their free time, compared with 39.3% of those who had not. For writing, the figures were 43.2% and 32.2%. The researchers cautioned that this shows an association, not proof that author visits alone caused the difference.
1. They make storytelling active
Stories become richer when children have space to respond to them. They can notice a character's choices, think about themes, ask why an idea matters and connect the story to their own imagination.
This helps position reading as something children can enter into, discuss and enjoy together. It can also provide a gentle starting point for classroom writing, drawing and role-play afterwards.
2. They strengthen speaking and listening
A visit creates a purposeful audience for children’s questions and reflections. Teachers can encourage pupils to prepare questions beforehand, listen for answers and build on ideas shared in the session.
These small moments matter. A child who contributes one thoughtful observation in a workshop may feel more ready to share during a future lesson or group activity.
3. They give identity and culture a meaningful place in learning
Author visits for schools can help children encounter stories that open up thoughtful conversations about culture, identity and pride. This is especially valuable when pupils can see Black characters, natural hair and African heritage approached with warmth, joy and care.
Representation belongs in everyday learning. It can help children see themselves reflected in stories, while also supporting classmates to listen, learn and appreciate different experiences.
4. They encourage creativity and self-expression
Not every response to a story needs to be written straight away. Creative colouring, illustration, conversation and reflection activities offer children different ways to share what they have understood.
These approaches can be particularly helpful in mixed-confidence groups. Children can contribute in a way that feels comfortable, then proudly share a finished piece of work with others.
How to prepare for author visits for schools
A little preparation helps pupils arrive ready to enjoy the experience and gives teachers a clear way to continue the learning afterwards. Keep the preparation simple, age-appropriate and connected to the purpose of the session.
Before the visit
- Choose your learning focus. Decide whether your priority is storytelling, confidence, cultural identity, creative expression, PSHE or a combination of themes.
- Confirm the practical plan. Agree the date, start time, session length, year group, number of children, room and adult support needed.
- Introduce the visitor’s work. Share a short overview of the author, characters or story themes without giving children every answer in advance.
- Prepare questions together. Invite pupils to suggest respectful questions about characters, stories, drawing, writing or the ideas behind the books.
- Set the tone for discussion. Remind children that different ideas and experiences deserve thoughtful listening.
On the day
- Make sure the visitor has access to the agreed space before pupils arrive.
- Arrange seating so children can see, hear and take part comfortably.
- Have any agreed resources ready, including paper, colouring materials or display space.
- Brief supporting adults on how they can encourage participation without speaking for pupils.
- Leave a few minutes for transitions, questions and a calm close to the session.
After the visit
The follow-up is where a visit can continue to live in the classroom. Return to a question raised by a pupil, display creative work or invite children to create a new character, setting or story ending.
You might also use the session as a starting point for a class conversation about what helps people feel included, understood and proud. Keep the discussion open, practical and connected to how pupils treat one another every day.
Introducing The Nubian Princesses storytelling workshops and author visits
The Nubian Princesses is a Black British children’s brand creating Black dolls, storybooks, activity books and gift sets that celebrate culture, identity and confidence. The brand began with a powerful question about skin colour and hair, and grew into a mission to help young Black girls embrace who they are and where they come from.
For schools, The Nubian Princesses offers interactive storytelling and confidence-building workshops for children, schools and libraries. The sessions are designed with educators in mind, align with PSHE and support national curriculum themes including identity and responsibility.
Workshop activities are designed for children aged 5 to 9 and include culturally rich storytelling, hands-on reading and reflection activities, and confidence-building discussions. The sessions invite children to explore Africa’s heritage through stories and joyful creative play.
What makes the workshops practical for schools
- Designed for children aged 5 to 9
- PSHE-aligned learning focused on confidence, identity and culture
- Interactive storytelling, discussion and creativity
- Hands-on reading and reflection activities
- Options for a one-hour workshop or shorter 25-minute sessions
- Optional books and Black dolls available to purchase as add-ons
The Nubian Princesses also offers author visits for schools and libraries with founder Rene Bissohong. Children hear directly from the creator about the dolls and books, creating space for curiosity, confidence and pride in their own stories.
These author visits for schools are suitable for EYFS and KS1 enrichment, including Black History Month activity and year-round learning. They offer a warm, purposeful way to centre stories that inspire and help children explore culture, identity and pride.
Planning your session with The Nubian Princesses
Start by thinking about the outcome you want for your pupils. A school may choose an author visit to inspire a topic launch, support PSHE learning, deepen a unit on storytelling or create a shared experience around representation and cultural pride.
Then consider the format that fits your timetable. The Nubian Princesses lists workshops at £150 per hour or £55 per 25-minute session, with discounted rates available for multiple sessions or full-day bookings. Author visits are listed at £150 per visit.
When you enquire, it is helpful to share:
- Your school name and location
- The year group or age range attending
- Your preferred dates and timetable constraints
- The number of pupils and the space available
- Your intended learning focus, such as storytelling, identity, cultural pride or PSHE
- Whether you would like to discuss books or dolls as optional add-ons
Ready to explore a visit for your pupils? Check availability for a The Nubian Princesses workshop or author visit.
Ideas to extend the learning after an author visit
Author visits for schools can become the beginning of a wider classroom project. Choose one or two follow-up activities so pupils have time to revisit the ideas without turning a joyful experience into too much extra work.
- Create a character portrait: Pupils draw a character and write a few sentences about their interests, strengths and hopes.
- Build a class story wall: Display new words, questions, illustrations and short story openings inspired by the session.
- Host a reflection circle: Invite children to share one idea they heard and one thing they would like to learn more about.
- Explore confidence through play: Use dolls, picture prompts or role-play to develop short scenes about kindness, responsibility and belonging.
- Make space for book talk: Encourage children to recommend stories that helped them feel curious, understood or inspired.
For families who would like to continue the conversation at home, our story-led activity and colouring books can bridge classroom learning and creative time together. The collection includes Kiraa’s Journey for ages 4–8, Sigi’s activity, colouring and story book for ages 7–9, and Ima’s Reading & Colouring Book for ages 4–6.
FAQs about author visits for schools
What age are The Nubian Princesses workshops designed for?
The interactive storytelling workshops are designed for children aged 5 to 9. The school workshops and author visits page also describes sessions as suitable for EYFS and KS1, so teachers can discuss the best format for their pupils when checking availability.
What happens in a The Nubian Princesses workshop?
Sessions combine storytelling, discussion and creative activities. They include culturally rich stories, hands-on reading and reflection, plus confidence-building conversations around culture, identity and pride.
How much do author visits for schools cost?
The Nubian Princesses lists author visits at £150 per visit. Workshops are listed at £150 per hour or £55 per 25-minute session, with discounted rates available for multiple sessions or full-day bookings.
Can schools book a workshop as well as an author visit?
Yes. The Nubian Princesses offers both interactive storytelling workshops and author visits, so schools can enquire about the format that best supports their timetable and learning aims.
Are books and dolls available for schools?
Books and Black dolls are available as optional add-ons for workshops. They can offer an additional way for children to revisit storytelling, imaginative play and creative learning after the session.
Bring stories, creativity and pride into the school day
The strongest author visits for schools leave children with more than a memory of a special visitor. They give pupils fresh language for their ideas, space to create, and stories that help them feel seen and proud.
With The Nubian Princesses, schools can bring together storytelling, cultural identity and confidence through play in a way that is warm, interactive and rooted in positive representation. Explore a session that helps children listen, imagine, reflect and share their own stories.