221 Teaching courses in Mountain Ash

This course will develop knowledge from the FD&FA foundation BS 5839-1 module and/or industry experience and apply this to the design of FD&FA systems.

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 2nd June 2025

Inspiring, interactive and unique 4-hour CPD certified Communication and Co-production training.

LOOKING FOR: ADULT FICTION Katie Fulford has worked in publishing for many years and most recently at HarperCollins in various roles including Group Rights Director, MD of Collins non-fiction and senior roles in HarperFiction, William Collins and 4th Estate. Now at Bell Lomax Moreton, she is a new (ish) agent and definitely on the lookout for fiction. On her wish list is a gripping thriller with a clear hook like Three Hours by Rosamund Lupton or Disclaimer by Renee Knight, and a clever rom com like those by Sophia Money-Coutts or Laura Williams. But she also loves historical fiction, family and relationship drama (think Liane Moriarty) and epic love stories. She is not on the lookout for police procedurals or science fiction. Her favourite recent books include The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller and An American Marriage by Tayari Jones. Katie would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 - 2 page synopsis and the first three chapters of your manuscript in a single word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, Katie 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 this session 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 to reach I Am In Print by the stated submission deadline and note that I Am In Print take no responsibility for the advice given in your Agent121. The submission deadline is: Wednesday 4th June 2025 at 12 noon UK BST

Introduction to Neurodiversity for Educators (Post-16)

About this course This practical course will help primary teachers to understand the purpose of assessment in history and consider current best practice. We will explore ways of continuing to improve the quality of teaching and learning in history through effective assessment strategies. We will go through practical ideas and resources to enliven teaching and learning in history and provide opportunities for assessment. This course will provide guidance and support to help develop the accuracy of teacher judgements. During the course, we will look at examples of writing and outcomes from different schools and consider how these outcomes demonstrate progress and attainment in history. Outcomes • understand the purpose of assessment in history • consider current best practice • explore ways of continuing to improve the quality of teaching and learning in history through effective assessment strategies • explore practical ideas and resources to enliven teaching and learning in history and provide opportunities for assessment • provide guidance and support to help develop the accuracy of teacher judgements Course leader The course is led by Steven Kenyon. Steven is a member of the Historical Association’s primary committee, having worked as a primary school teacher and then Deputy Head Teacher between 2004 and 2018. He joined Lancashire Professional Development Service in April 2018 as a Teaching and Learning Consultant for Primary History and English. He works closely with Lancashire Archives to promote and develop local history work in primary schools. This year he is a judge for the Historical Association's Young Quills Awards.

LOOKING FOR: ADULT FICTION, SCIENCE FICTION / FANTASY After several years spent within publishing houses Bookouture, Canelo, Avon, One More Chapter and Head of Zeus, Hannah Todd became a Literary Agent at the Madeleine Milburn Literary, TV & Film Agency, before joining Janklow & Nesbit in January 2025. Her clients include Kirsty Greenwood, Charlie Gallagher and Leah Mercer. Hannah is keen to see commercial fiction across the board, but with a particular focus on romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy & mystery novels. She is drawn to books with exemplary characterisation, voice and strength of feeling. But don't let your characterisation overshadow the need for impeccable plot and if you can make her laugh or cry then you're onto a winner! Across the full light-dark spectrum Hannah especially loves SFF that features an unlikely band of heroes, like the Six of Crows series by Leigh Bardugo, Scott Lynch's Gentleman Bastard series, Becky Chambers' The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, T. Kingfisher's Nettle and Bone,and the cosy themes/settings offered by Heather Fawcett and TJ Klune. Hannah's advice is make sure you have a clear USP and hook: If you are sending your reader to a magical academy, or if we're riding dragons or waving wands, that's great! But what makes your book feel different and fresh? An excellent voice is key, but what else makes your take on these tropes stand out? An example of a phenomenal book that has turned the magical academy trope on its head, with layers of excellent world building, a unique magic system and plot twists galore is The Will of the Many by James Islington. If you have something crafted this beautifully then Hannah wants to see it! Romantasy of varying spice levels, accessible to both romance and fantasy readers, is on Hannah's wishlist. And you can whisk her away with contemporary romance novels, romcoms, sweeping love stories that redefine the genre. Romcoms with great disability rep and LGBTQIA+ stories that focus on the joy of falling in love are high on Hannah's agenda. She particularly loves Emily Henry, Laura Wood and Abby Jiminez. Think more Nicholas Sparks than Sally Rooney, and Bonnie Garmus rather than Gabrielle Zevin. In this space, she is a big fan of Emma Donoghue, Bonnie Garmus and Jojo Moyes. Meet with Hannah to discuss your crime and high-concept thrillers with an unsettling ‘it-could-happen-to-me’ feeling, coupled with a twist that's unseen until its delivery. The book she most wants to find in this space is something like Three Hours by Rosamund Lupton in both its themes (real-world emotional suspense) and its execution. A mystery series that feels like a real 'romp' is something she loves to escape with too. With regards to all genres, Hannah is particularly interested in voices from underrepresented backgrounds: such as writers of colour, indigenous communities, the LGBTQIA+ community, and those with disabilities. Hannah does not the right agent to give advice on: Re-imaginings of the classics Books that feature characters putting on Shakespeare plays! Historical fiction Children's, middle-grade and YA Hannah would like you to submit a covering letter, one page synopsis and the first 5,000 words of your completed manuscript in a single word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, Hannah 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: Tuesday 3rd June 2025

Historical Association webinar series: Direct history teaching Presenters: Mike Hill and Jacob Olivey In this second session, Jacob and Mike will share how history teachers can teach substantive knowledge (what we know about the past) in more direct ways – whilst still challenging and engaging pupils. They will share ideas about using lean resources and high-quality images, worldbuilding through storytelling, and building lessons around extended texts. To use your corporate recording offer on this webinar please fill in this form: https://forms.office.com/e/Qr1PfgRHSS We are able to offer the webinars in this series at a subsidised cost as the presenters' time has been partially funded by their school, Ark Soane Academy. We are open to developing partnerships across schools and trusts. If you are interested in discussing this further, please contact Mel Jones at melanie.jones@history.org.uk

LOOKING FOR: ADULT FICTION, NON-FICTION Emily MacDonald joined 42 management and production company in 2019, working with Eugenie Furniss across her clients. She is now an agent in the Books Department, and is building her own list. Send Emily a story with characters that just won't leave her and a narrative that pulls her in, keeping her immersed in the world well after she has finished reading. She reads across a wide-range and has a particular interest in: book club, high-concept crime/thriller, upmarket and literary fiction. In fiction, Emily would love to find a crime/thriller set within a subcult: a modern retelling of British folklore (think Kamila Shamsie’s Home Fire); an unconventional love story; and a character led journey of self-discovery (especially one set within a diasporic community). Emily is also looking for narrative non-fiction which immerses the reader into an untold true story (personal or historical), exploring a new point of view, and providing a compelling social commentary, with an investigative twist. Think the obsessive vein of Kirk W. Johnson or personal/political dispatches of Aidan Hartley. Emily wants her horizons to expand while she reads. In both fiction and non-fiction, Emily loves stories woven into their surroundings, where the setting is as central a character as those who drive the narrative. In both spheres, she is keen to hear from Scottish and regional voices with stories to tell. Please note, Emily is not currently accepting submissions for Children's lit/YA and SFF. Emily would like you to submit a covering letter, 1 - 2 page synopsis and the first 5,000 words of your manuscript in a single word document. (In addition to the paid sessions, Emily 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: Wednesday 4th June 2025

Learners will develop knowledge from the FD&FA foundation module and/or industry experience and apply this to the maintenance of FD&FA systems.