Teaching & Training courses in Stockton-on-Tees

Music Audio Stories presents Can You Spell It? Free Video Series ▫️Fun videos to help your child learn to pronounce and spell colours and develop visual and reading skills. We are thrilled to introduce our video series called, Can You Spell It? Children will learn how to pronounce and spell each colour and enjoy seeing our flower characters. With illustrations, voice-overs, animations, and music, this video series will help to teach children to spell in a fun and easy way. Children will: ▪️See examples of each colour ▪️Learn how to spell each colour ▪️Hear how each colour is pronounced ▪️Gain better reading skills ▪️Improve concentration and visual skills ▪️Love the illustrated flower characters ▪️Enjoy sound effects and music ⏰ Videos are released on Saturdays at 11 am on YouTube. Subscribe on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/user/MusicAudioStories and hit the bell to make sure you don't miss a new video. Video Series Playlist: https://shorturl.at/IDVL5 Find out why it's important to develop colour recognition here: https://musicaudiostories.com/blog/can-you-spell-it Enjoy! ♥ Music Audio Stories - Making learning easy and fun! Music Audio Stories is an original company specialising in entertaining music audiobooks, picture books, interactive activities, fun videos, and unique storytelling with multi-award-winner, 'Storytime with Anna Christina'. Music Audio Stories are interactive audiobooks with full orchestral scores and magical soundtracks, catchy sing-along songs and fun stories that teach and uplift little listeners. Videos include uniquely entertaining Storytimes with music, sound effects, narration, voice-overs, illustrations, and animations. Plus delightful activity videos for listening, learning, reading, drawing, and lots of fun! ---------- Website: http://www.musicaudiostories.com/ Storytime: http://storytimewithannachristina.com/ ---------- Subscribe to get a free music audiobook at: http://www.musicaudiostories.com/#subscribe ---------- Twitter: https://twitter.com/musicaudiostory Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musicaudiostories/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musicaudiostories/ Storytime with Anna Christina Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storytimewithannachristina/

LOOKING FOR: ADULT FICTION Nicky Lovick has worked as an editor for over twenty years, working for top five publishers. She is now an agent at WGM Talent, building the books list. She is looking for commercial fiction, from upmarket women’s fiction, bookclub, romance, domestic noir and psychological thrillers, to crime series. She loves hooky stories such as Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid and Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware set in confined settings, such as hotels. She’s always on the lookout for romcoms with a fresh, contemporary feel to them such as Emily Henry’s Book Lovers. Also historical fiction with a twist and sweeping family sagas. Nicky wants you to make her laugh, make her cry or keep her hooked.  Nicky would like you to submit a covering letter, 1-2 page synopsis and the opening three chapters of your manuscript in a single word document.  (In addition to the paid sessions, Nicky is kindly offering one free session for low income/underrepresented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print).  By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Monday 24th March 2025

LOOKING FOR: ADULT FICTION, NON-FICTION Liza represents a range of fiction and non-fiction. On the fiction side, she is looking for historical fiction that is well researched, immerses readers in the era, and looks at overlooked characters from the past, or perhaps gives a new spin on someone we think we know. On the literary and upmarket side, she is looking for novels infused with emotions that capture the human experience and make readers think. If your literary novel is something that A24 productions might turn into a movie, this is Liza’s taste. When it comes to fantasy, she loves urban and grounded fantasy (no sci-fi please!), and is always happy to look at anything with a vampire, werewolf, witches, warlocks, fairies, and perhaps a sinister selkie or two. She is also very much looking for romantasy and is the best person at the agency to submit that too. For thrillers, send her anything set in an exotic location, high-concept, or things with a speculative twist. She loves when characters are put in situations she would never want to be in, and then they have to get out of it. Her recent favourite fiction includes: Notes on an Execution, Lady Macbethad, Hamnet, A Discovery of Witches, House of Earth and Blood, The Starless Sea, Piranesi, Our Wives Under the Sea, The Pisces, Such A Fun Age. When it comes to non fiction, she is looking for books that teach her something new or reframe a topic from an alternative point of view. This can include cookery, pop science, and social history. Liza’s recent favourite non-fiction include: The Five, A History of Art Without Men, Messalina, The Authority Gap, Finding The Mother Tree, Cook This Book, Dessert Person. Liza would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 - 2 page synopsis and the first 5000 words of your manuscript in a single word document.  (In addition to the paid sessions, Liza is kindly offering one free session for low income/underrepresented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print).  By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: 12 noon GMT on Friday 28th March 2025

Are you an assessor or a trainer looking to enhance your effectiveness and communication skills? Do you find it challenging to confidently express your thoughts, to get what you want from situations and to maintain control during training sessions or assessments?  If so, our “Assertiveness for Assessors and Trainers” live online workshop is made for you. Effective Communication: Assertiveness empowers you to communicate your ideas clearly, ensuring your message is understood by learners. You’ll learn techniques to express your thoughts confidently, leading to improved engagement and comprehension. Confidence Building: Learn techniques for appearing more confident when communicating with others.  Taking control: Take control of situations through your body language and the verbal / written language you use. Invest in Your Success This 2.5 hour session will help you gain the skills to lead with confidence, communicate effectively, and prioritise yourself in your life.  Further Information This 2.5 hour session held live online via Teams will give you the tools and techniques you need to be more assertive. Workshop Benefits Interactive Workshops: Engage in hands-on activities, role plays, and real-world scenarios to practice assertive communication techniques in a safe and supportive environment.Expert Facilitators: Our experienced trainers will guide you through proven strategies, drawing on their expertise in communication, psychology, and training methodologies.Tailored Content: The course content is specifically designed for assessors and trainers, addressing challenges and situations unique to your profession.Practical Tools: Walk away with a toolkit of practical techniques, scripts, and strategies that you can immediately apply in your assessments and training sessions.Networking Opportunities: Connect with fellow assessors and trainers, sharing insights, experiences, and best practices to further enhance your professional journey.

LOOKING FOR: PICTURE BOOKS, CHAPTER BOOKS, MG, YA Lil is a Senior Editor at Hachette Children's. She has well over 15 years experience in the publishing industry, working for major publishers and literary agents too.  For twelve years, Lil was a Senior Commissioning Editor at Working Partners Ltd – the creatives behind massive commercial hits such as Beast Quest, Warriors and the Daisy Meadows series. There she created globally successful concepts for every age group and developed storylines so the books were unputdownable. Lil is also an author in her own right: she has written 6 books under her own name, and ghost written many others under various pseudonyms.  In every age level, Lil would like to see originality - particularly in voice. A strong character with depth, venturing on a quest that's never been undertaken before will get her excited. The 'quest' doesn't have to be epic in scale, it could be as small as petting the next-door neighbour's dog, or getting the good looking new kid to notice you, it just has to be something a reader will want to invest in. She also loves humour and is happy to see anything quirky (perhaps even downright silly!).  For picture books, Lil would like you to submit a covering letter, and 1 complete manuscript, double-spaced, with spreads marked out, in a single word or PDF doc. For chapter books, MG and YA, please send a covering letter, the first three chapters and a synopsis, double spaced, in a single Word or PDF doc. Please send EITHER picture books OR another genre, not both in one submission. By booking this session you agree to email your material to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline to agent121@iaminprint.co.uk. Please note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice given in your Agent121. The submission deadline is: Monday 31st March 2025

LOOKING FOR: ADULT FICTION, NON-FICTION Rachel Neely began her publishing career in 2016 at HarperCollins, before moving to Hachette where she worked as an editor for the next six years, specialising in crime and thrillers along with book club novels and contemporary fiction, most recently as a Commissioning Editor at Orion. Rachel joined Mushens Entertainment at the start of 2022 as an Associate Agent, assisting Juliet Mushens with her client list, including multiple Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling authors. Simultaneously she began signing her own clients. In August 2023 she was promoted to Literary Agent and in 2024 achieved Bookseller Rising Star status. In actively growing her list, Rachel is looking for book-club fiction, dark academia, rom-coms, tragic love stories, crime and thrillers. Please note she is not the right agent for sci-fi, espionage novels, YA or children’s books. She signs both commercial and literary authors, and is always looking for a distinctive voice matched with a compelling plot. She also is especially drawn to darker stories that centre characters with tragic fates, dark pasts or buried trauma. She is also keen to find authors from underrepresented groups who can bring a fresh perspective to well-worn story arcs, or capture experiences shared by many but, as of yet, underexplored in fiction. She would love to see a commercial locked-room thriller in the vein of The Midnight Feast, The White Lotus or with shades of Succession; novels about cults such as The Girls; a voice-led serial-killer thriller reminiscent of How to Kill Your Family; compelling dark academia to rival The Secret History; a high-concept but tragic love story that will make her ugly cry in the vein of The Time Traveller’s Wife or One Day; and anything that has an outsider trying to break into the world of the privileged and morally bankrupt. Besides those above, her favourite novels include The List, The Talented Mr Ripley, The Lovely Bones, Other People’s Clothes, The It Girl, The Girl Before, Notes on an Execution, My Dark Vanessa and My Sister the Serial Killer. Rachel would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 - 2 page synopsis and the first 5000 words of your manuscript in a single word document.  (In addition to the paid sessions, Rachel is kindly offering one free session for low income/underrepresented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print).  By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Friday 28th March 2025

LOOKING FOR: PICTURE BOOKS / CHAPTER BOOKS / MG / YA / NEW ADULT inc GRAPHIC NOVELS Gyamfia Osei joined ANA in 2023 as a Literary Agent in the UK department. She was previously an agent at The Good Literary Agency, where she began building her list of authors. Recent successes include a ‘significant’ 6-figure pre-empt for Busayo Matuluko’s YA debut ‘Til Death, a 5-way auction for Quiet Storm by Kimberly Whittam and the shortlisting of Ebinehita Iyere’s Girlhood, Unfiltered at the 2023 British Book Awards. She was also a Bookseller Rising Star in 2024! At ANA, Gyamfia is focusing on developing the agency’s list of children’s authors, while also representing a bespoke list of commercial adult fiction and narrative non-fiction. In the Children’s space, Gyamfia would love to find contemporary stories that are full of heart and joy-driven books across all genres (think Clare Weze, Kimberly Whittam and Elle McNicoll). Funny middle-grade and YA horror are currently at the top of her list and she is also keen to read more teen projects (think Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging and Glow Up Lara Bloom) this year. She is very interested in finding a graphic novel or illustrated project for either MG or YA readers. In the older fiction space, Gyamfia enjoys well-plotted, fast-paced narratives with authentic characters who lodge themselves in her mind long after she’s finished reading (think Sadie, Verity and Girl A). She’s open to a broad range of genres, but would be particularly keen to see romantasy, cosy crime, contemporary romance and tightly plotted domestic noir. Please note that Gyamfia doesn’t consider literary fiction and, in the commercial space, she is not hugely interested in very high fantasy, trauma-focused stories or particularly gruesome horror. In the non-fiction space, she would be happy to consider commercial narrative non-fiction and cultural history projects (think Brit(ish), It’s Not That Radical and Everything I Know About Love). She is very open when it comes to Children’s non-fiction but would be particularly interested to consider unique cookbooks aimed at young chefs, books exploring mental health/wellness and projects that bring the experiences of marginalised children to the forefront. Gyamfia would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 page synopsis and the opening three chapters (max 5,000 words). For picture books please send two texts and a covering letter. For non-fiction please supply a cover letter and proposal with up to 5,000 words of your sample text. Please send EITHER picture books OR another genre, not both in one submission. (In addition to the paid sessions, Gyamfia is kindly offering one free session for low income/under-represented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print).  By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Friday 28th March 2025

CPD accredited Level 3 Train the Trainer, Speaking & Presenting Skills course. Delivered online (Zoom) by a live tutor. Exam and Certificate fee included in the price.

LOOKING FOR: ADULT FICTION Jade Kavanagh is a Literary Agent at Darley Anderson Literary Agency. She has a degree in English Literature from the University of Westminster then went on to achieve her Masters in Modern and Contemporary Fictions. Alongside assisting Camilla Bolton on her list of clients Jade is building a list steeped in the darker side of fiction, including suspense, thriller, horror and 'horromance' with distinct voices and setting. Across these genres Jade looks for powerful female narratives and dynamic characterisation. She wants female characters like Shiv Roy (Succession), Emily Gilmore (Gilmore Girls), Annalise Keating (How to Get Away with Murder), Buffy Summers (Buffy), Ellen Ripley (Alien), Dana Scully (The X Files), Detective Kima Greggs (The Wire). Jade would love something with a big book club hook that readers devour in one sitting. Setting and atmosphere are of huge appeal. She wants stories with a vivid sense of place and to be immersed in the world of the characters. Jade wants detail down to what shade of lipstick or colour of the lamp on their bedside table and the nature and landscape around them. She loves luxury settings she can get excited about reading and descriptions to lose herself in. Jade also loves dark twists on glamorous concepts and settings. Think The Devil Wears Prada meets Killing Eve, or Real Housewives or Succession meets How to Kill My Family or something akin to White Lotus.  Across the spectrum of horror and speculative fiction, Jade is looking for haunting stories filled with slow build darkness and characters with heart. Think 28 Days Later and The Last of Us. She really wants a dark witchy story… or on the cosier side a fresh take on something like Practical Magic or Charmed. Jade wants heroes to root for, and villains that terrify and enrage her in equal measure. One of Jade's favourite TV shows is Orphan Black; she'd love to see a book series like this. As a proud member of the Twilight generation, (Team Edward forever!) she’d also love to read a modern vampire novel. Show her American Psycho meets Dracula. Give her 2023 Carlisle Cullen in a thriller or a new take on Buffy. Whilst not actively looking for sci-fi novels, Jade would love to see A Scully and Mulder for the 2020s!  Notably, Jade looks for voices from all walks of life. She is incredibly passionate about bringing working-class voices into the commercial fiction space. She would love to hear from new exciting talent, telling stories about everyday people with relatable voices, people she grew up with, people she can imagine. Jade would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 -2 page synopsis and the first 5,000 words of your completed manuscript in a single word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, Jade is kindly offering one free session for low income/under-represented writers. Please email agent121@iaminprint.co.uk to apply, outlining your case for this option which is offered at the discretion of I Am In Print).  By booking you understand you need to conduct an internet connection test with I Am In Print prior to the event. You also agree to email your material in one document to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice received during your agent meeting. The submission deadline is: Monday 31st March 2025

Assessor Course