Listening Books

FAO: EYFS (although not specifically advertised - access to some high end reception level texts also available e.g. The Tiger Who Came to Tea ) KS1, KS2, KS2, KS4 and A Level Phase

The UK charity Listening Books is an audiobook lending charity for those that find their illness, mental health, physical or learning disability affects their ability to read the printed word or hold a book.  They have launched the perfect support for lockdown learning for anyone with a print impairment which affects their access to books. If you qualify for membership you can now visit their website, fill out a short joining form and begin to stream and download over 1500 educational and fiction titles for children and young adults.  The collection includes set texts such as Shakespeare plays and 19th century prose novels, study guides and titles to support mental health, as well as a wide range of popular fiction titles.  The collection will make home schooling that much more enjoyable and accessible.

The new website was needed as the previous version wasn’t fully accessible or mobile friendly and in addition did not have all the fantastic features for members. Members are now able to gain instant access to the service upon joining, can rate and review titles they’ve enjoyed, as well as create lists of favourite titles to share with others. The charity secured funding and found an agency to work with who created them a bespoke site which more fully serves their member’s needs.

You can visit the new site and join here:

Parents - www.listening-books.org.uk 

Schools - https://www.listening-books.org.uk/what-we-do/membership-for-schools

Listening Books currently serve over 111,000 members, comprised of individuals and organisations such as schools, children’s hospitals and hospices. According to the Department of Education, 14.9% of all pupils have a SEN, and Listening Books will use the launch of the new website to reach as many as possible to highlight the overall benefits that access to audiobooks can bring, both for leisure and learning, and particularly as a resource for home schooling.

* Annual memberships start at £20 for those who can afford it or are free for those that would find the fee a barrier to membership. Please indicate this by ticking the relevant box on our application form.

** To qualify for membership, you must have an illness, disability, learning or mental health condition that affects reading or holding a book, and be resident in the UK.