School visits

I love visiting schools and libraries and am able to do this either in person or virtually.

In person

Most popular: Based around The Accidental Diary of B.U.G. series or The Day My… series (or a combination of both), a typical in-person visit lasts for an hour and includes readings, book-related activities, audience interaction, a drawing activity and LOTS OF FUN!

Workshops like the one described above can be delivered to individual KS2 classes, or to a larger group of KS2 pupils in the hall.

I also offer: creative writing workshops for UKS2 and KS3 groups. A typical session focuses on one aspect of creative writing such as sensory writing, or show not tell. Sessions are an hour long and, by the end of the session, the pupils will have produced a piece of writing to be proud of.

For in-person visits, I’m keenest to travel to schools in the North West of England.

Here are a few testimonials from previous visits:

Jen Carney came to visit our school and delivered an engaging reading and illustrating workshop for our UKS2 children. The workshop was extremely active and children were enthusiastic and giggling throughout and LOVED trying out the biscuit laws. Jen’s books are very modern and relate to all children and their family lives, we have even ordered the new book for our class novel.

Mrs Wiles – KS2 teacher, Blackrod Primary School

The children at Washacre loved listening to Jen’s story and getting the opportunity to create their own cartoon strips.

Mr Howarth, Head teacher, Washacre Primary

Jen Carney visited our Primary School and it was such a fantastic experience for children and staff alike!  We found it hilarious, engaging and inspiring!  Jen has a great stage presence, bold and funny and knows exactly the kind of jokes that make children laugh.  We thoroughly enjoyed the session. Jen had a lovely, natural ability with the children and answered their questions and made them all feel special.  We feel very lucky to have had such a wonderful experience and would have Jen back in school in a heartbeat!  

Mrs Otham – Coleham Primary School

We really enjoyed listening to you read your books to us. We also enjoyed enjoyed playing games and eating biscuits.

Rinta, St. Kentigern’s

_{Cost: Unless you require me to devise a bespoke workshop, my in-person fee is £60 per 30 minutes, plus return travel expenses charged at 45p per mile.}

Virtual visit

My virtual visits are available to all, but may be of particular interest to schools outside of the North West of England as they eliminate costly travel expenses.

Suitable for any/all of your KS2 classes, my virtual visits are fun, inclusive and interactive and suitable for any/all of your KS2 classes. Typically, a virtual visit would include.

• An introduction to me as an author-illustrator
• A reading
• Two of the following interactive activities: Drawing Tips / Creative Writing Challenge / Biscuit-Eating / Comic activity / Draw-along
• Time for questions

Jen ‘zoomed’ into the entire of our key stage 2 (12 classes!) and had every child hooked! Children who ‘didn’t like reading’ were transfixed as she read from B.U.G. 1 and had every class in stitches. Jen answered questions from our children with honesty, humility and hilarity, then held a draw-along to inspire the illustrators amongst us, too. Not only was the virtual visit fun and interesting, it was personalised and hugely inspiring.

Mrs Cryer, Oasis Academy, Henderson Avenue

We had a virtual visit with Jen Carney in Summer with Year 4 and the children and adults loved every minute of it. Would I recommend Jen doing a virtual zoom book visit – 100%. It felt intimate and the children did not stop talking about it for days.

Mrs Dar, Little Ealing Primary School

Thank you for a lovely morning. We really enjoyed having a giggle. You have inspired me to write my own book.

Year 5 pupil, Chudleigh Community Primary School

If you are reading one of my titles in class, I am also available for virtual visits so children can ask questions.

Virtual Visit Cost: £50 per half hour.

Whether in-person or virtual, order forms to give children the opportunity to purchase signed books will be supplied by my local independent bookshop.

Please use the contact form to express interest/enquire about author visits.

I really hope to see you soon! In the meantime, why not check out these resources that are free for you to use in your classrooms.