A free event for school staff and governors will offer expert guidance on injecting excitement into learning to read - plus the chance to win a bundle of 50 books for the school library.

Tickets are still available for the annual KM Charity Team Forum being staged on Friday, October 13. The half day event is free to attend but places must be booked online in advance.

Workshops will include a ‘Making Reading Rock’ session hosted by early reading specialists Charlotte Raby and Emily Guille-Marrett. They will draw on their experiences as series editors of the new Big Cat Phonics for Letters and Sound series, content writers for OxfordOwl.com, and founders of Reading Fairy classes and story events for preschool children.

Emily said: “We know that learning to read changes everything, but how do we make the process meaningful and fun? Our workshop will explore how to connect to children’s experiences, and use quality children’s literature alongside the phonics approach to help every child find enjoyment in reading.”

Delegates will be entered into a prize draw for the chance to win a bumper bundle of 50 books for one lucky school donated by publisher Collins.

Other workshops for schools will include a focus group on the Buster’s Book Club home reading scheme and a masterclass in delivering green travel and road safety programmes.

Event organiser Charlotte Hayes of the KM Charity Team said: “We are thrilled that Charlotte and Emily will share their expertise with schools. Between them, they have worked on nearly every reading programme in the UK with some of the world's leading educationalists and children's writers and illustrators.”

The KM Charity Team Forum will include sessions for charities giving tips on KM Charity of the Year and grant funding, plus advice on accountancy and insurance issues from Kreston Reeves and Jelf.

To book free tickets for the event, staged at Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel, visit www.kmcharityteam.co.uk or click this link HERE

• Charities can win free insurance for a year through a prize draw staged by the KM Charity Team in partnership with Jelf. Visit www.kmcharityteam.co.uk or click this link HERE