Looking for more in Reading and Stories?
About Sensory Storytelling
Sensory Storytelling brings the magic of an author visit and the many benefits of books and sensory storytelling to young people with additional support needs.
Multi-sensory storytelling is one way of empowering children with additional support needs to express their thoughts and ideas, help teachers create a calm, relaxed atmosphere and ensure a positive, enriched and creative school experience.
Inclusive Stories Tour
We’re thrilled to announce the return of the Inclusive Stories Tour in March 2025, featuring the talented Deaf illustrator Lucy Rogers! This exciting tour will visit schools in Falkirk, East Dunbartonshire, and West Dunbartonshire.
In February 2024, the tour brought the author Lisette Auton to schools in Perthshire and Stirling. You can hear what the students had to say on this Instagram post(this link will open in a new window).
We can’t wait to share more inspiring stories with students in 2025!
Apply for the Inclusive Stories Tour 2025
Sensory Stories Summer Roadshow
The Sensory Stories Summer Roadshow is bringing live author events to children with additional support needs in Scotland during the summer holidays.
Applications have now closed.
Find out more about the Sensory Stories Summer Roadshow
School residencies
We offer four fully-funded residencies per school year; any ASN setting in Scotland (including Special Schools or support units attached to mainstream schools) can apply to host an author, storyteller or creator from our Live Literature Author Directory.
Applications for the 2024–25 ASN School Residencies programme are now closed.
To find out more about the impact of this programme, read our case study about the school residency at Rowanfield School.
'I believe it's important to think about the impact projects like this have long term. I have learned new ways to engage my learners and I feel really inspired to take this forward. It's given me the opportunity to say to staff and pupils 'look what we can do when we let ourselves try'.'
Sensory Stories Fund grant
Our Sensory Stories Fund provides a £500 grant for schools and groups working with children and young people with additional support needs to promote a love of stories in their setting.
Applications for the Sensory Stories Fund are now closed.
Gifting of tactile books
To help children on their reading journey, Scottish Book Trust was delighted to gift Getting Ready to every child aged 5-12 in a special school or special needs setting in Scotland in 2021.
Getting Ready is a fantastic resource for schools and families. Developed by Child’s Play in consultation with children, families and organisations working with blind and partially sighted children, it contains high-contrast images, tactile features and Braille-style numbering. It is suitable for children with a variety of additional support needs, and is the perfect book to support exploring and establishing routines.
We provide free tactile books for children with additional support needs(this link will open in a new window) through our Bookbug Programme.
Multi-sensory learning resources
We have created several multi-sensory learning resources through this project:
- Turning picture books into sensory stories(this link will open in a new window)
- Multi-sensory songs and rhymes: hints and tips(this link will open in a new window)
- 10 things to do with any book (ASN)(this link will open in a new window)
- Sensory books for all(this link will open in a new window)
The Mohn Westlake Foundation
Sensory Storytelling is funded by The Mohn Westlake Foundation
