Empathy Schools Programme

Resource type: CPD course

Price band: ££

Key stage: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4

Region(s): All of UK

The Empathy Schools Programme provides CPD and resources to support schools looking to develop and embed an empathy curriculum based on high-quality literature in their primary or secondary setting.

The evidence-based programme draws on the latest research that demonstrates that empathy is a learnable skill and that books and reading can play a key role in developing it.

The Empathy Schools Programme includes:

In-person CPD for key staff members.
Support to help create a whole-school action plan tailored to the needs and priorities of individual settings.
Online training resources to support whole-school development.
A programme of online author/illustrator events for pupils.
Curated booklists and a bank of digital resources for use in the classroom.
Access to termly online Share & Learn sessions with fellow Empathy Schools.

Cost: £700 for state schools and academies/£900 for independent schools.

About EmpathyLab: EmpathyLab was founded in 2014 by Miranda McKearney OBE, Sarah Mears MBE, Craig Hill and Caroline Scott. Working in partnership with 40 children’s publishers through its Empathy Builders programme, it aims to build a book-based empathy movement that reaches over one million children a year by 2026.

Literacy Hive Likes:

As well as developing key empathy skills, the Empathy Schools programme promotes pupil wellbeing and resilience and supports PSHE curriculum outcomes.
Reading for empathy encourages a culture of Reading for Pleasure.
The Empathy Day Festival in June is a 10-day programme of free online author events and activities to celebrate the importance of empathy.