Schools

Our free audiobook service is designed to make reading more accessible to and enjoyable for children who have SEN or disabilities that mean they may find reading printed text challenging. In addition to offering these children free access to our extensive collection of audiobooks, we also offer a free school account so that teachers can see the resources on offer and choose the most appropriate ways of using them to support their students.

Our free audiobook service is here to support children who face barriers to reading printed text. This may include children diagnosed with, or demonstrate traits of:

• Dyslexia

• Autism

• ADHD

• Visual impairment

• Long COVID

• Other physical and neurological conditions

A formal 'diagnosis' is not required as we appreciate that this can form an additional barrier.

• Our audiobooks break down barriers to reading and allow children to access the same texts as their peers, promoting inclusivity and independence alongside developing reading and comprehension skills.

• They provide children with improved language skills, through exposure to a wider range of vocabulary.

• Regular readers for pleasure report fewer feelings of stress and depression. Also, feelings of relaxation from reading are stronger than watching television or taking part in technology intensive activities. These higher levels of wellbeing are shown to then reduce the risk of developing mental health challenges later in life.

• Our audiobooks can also support with general knowledge and education. We have a large collection of non-fiction and curriculum set texts to support learning.

• Free and unlimited access to thousands of audiobook titles, with new titles added every week.

• Listen anywhere via download or streaming on phone, tablet or computer or borrow USB memory sticks using our free postal service.

• Newsletters highlighting new books and reading suggestions (opt-in required).

How do we help with schools?

We are keen to work with schools to support as many students as possible who are eligible for our service. Alongside supporting schools to utilise audiobooks to boost reading attainment, we encourage schools to promote general audiobook use to inspire a love of reading and promote positive wellbeing.

With a key focus on reading for pleasure, we offer support to schools to promote audiobook use to all students who are struggling with reading.

Through a digital resource pack (currently under development), we'll provide leaflet and poster designs and templates containing all the information required to promote audiobooks to students and parents.

We'll also send regular news and updates to a lead teacher for onward sharing to keep engagement levels high.

Research complied by The Reading Agency has shown that guided reading using an audiobook and a printed book together is the most effective at improving reading and comprehension levels, but research also shows that simply listening to the audiobooks is also beneficial.

If recommended reading lists for different year groups or key stages are available, these can be passed to Calibre Audio and we will try to source as many as possible if we don't already have them in our collection.

How do I create a school account?

To create a school account, please get in touch with Helen Mee (Head of Communities and Learning) or Shanie Noakes (Schools' Project Coordinator). Who can send you a link to a sign-up portal if you are eligible. 

If you have individual students who would like to use the service, we recommend that they sign up for an individual account which is free and will enable them to continue their membership when they move on from your school. The individual joining form can be found here.

Contact us to explore other ways of working together. This might include:

Extra-curricular school book groups - introducing a structured guided reading group to support students with print disabilities to improve their reading and comprehension.

Formal educational support as part of provision for special educational needs.

If a school would like to discuss either of these alternatives or suggest other approaches to supporting their students, we encourage them to email our team: Helen Mee and Shanie Noakes.

For further advice and information on schools membership, please call us on 01296 432339 or email us on membershipservices@calibre.org.uk.