BookQuest
Our BookQuest KS2 literacy programme is designed to support children who struggle with comprehension, despite being competent at reading individual words. Understandably, many of these children don’t enjoy reading and often view it as a chore.
Using carefully chosen picture books BookQuest helps children become questioning, curious readers who are fully engaged with the stories, boosting enjoyment, as well as developing comprehension, vocabulary and spoken language skills. As experienced education professionals, our specially-trained tutors are able to adapt sessions to the needs of individual children.
The BookQuest programme is delivered in schools across Oxfordshire in small groups of children who have been chosen by their school. Our tutors and teaching team keep in close with contact with the school to ensure we have all the information we need to help each child.
BookQuest is one of the programmes we offer under the National Tutoring Programme. Find out more.
Want to know more?
If you are a school looking for help with some of your pupils, and would like to discuss how BookQuest could work in your school, please email us at teaching@questforlearning.org.uk
If you are a parent whose child has been selected for BookQuest, and you would like to know more about how it works and how you can help, please email us at teaching@questforlearning.org.uk
If you are a potential funder of educational projects, and would like to support us in our mission ot tackle the education disadvantage gap, please email us at fundraising@questforlearning.org.uk
Months progress in comprehension

How we work with Tutors
All our programmes are delivered by specially trained tutors who are employed by Quest for Learning and supported by our Teaching Team.
Interested in joining our friendly, supportive team? If you are an experienced primary teacher or qualified education professional looking for part-time work, we would love to hear from you!
“I enjoyed reading books that I thought were impossible for me to read.”
Pupil
“Freya has really grown in confidence when reading since taking part in BookQuest. She now enjoys reading rather than seeing it as a chore as she struggled.”
Parent
“You have obviously inspired and boosted his confidence.”
Teacher
Literacy training for teachers and TAs
Supporting Writing in KS1: a workshop for Teaching Assistants
Course date May 17, 2022
This course is designed specifically to provide TAs with an understanding of the KS1 writing curriculum and its associated subject knowledge, as well as an opportunity to explore strategies and approaches for scaffolding their writing to develop independence. Suitable for TAs working in KS1 or KS2.
Supporting Writing in KS2: A workshop for Teaching Assistants
Course date May 19, 2022
This course is designed specifically to provide TAs with an understanding of the KS2 writing curriculum and its associated subject knowledge, as well as an opportunity to explore strategies and approaches for scaffolding their writing to develop independence. Suitable for TAs working in KS2.
End of KS1 Writing Assessment and Moderation: Cross-school moderation
Course date May 24, 2022
In the final session, teachers will have an opportunity to moderate and discuss pupils’ writing from across the standards, agreeing or refining judgements with colleagues from other schools and discussing next steps to secure standards by the end of the teacher assessment period.
End of KS2 Writing Assessment and Moderation: Cross-school moderation
Course date May 24, 2022
In the final session, teachers will have an opportunity to moderate and discuss pupils’ writing from across the standards, agreeing or refining judgements with colleagues from other schools and discussing next steps to secure standards by the end of the teacher assessment period.
Years 3&4 Writing Assessment and Moderation: Cross-school moderation
Course date June 14, 2022
In the final session, teachers will have an opportunity to moderate and discuss a range of pupils’ writing, agreeing or refining judgements with colleagues from other schools and discussing next steps to secure standards to support end of year teacher assessments.
English Subject Leaders’ Network
Course date June 16, 2022
This series of termly network meetings is aimed at providing updates and ensuring subject leaders have the latest information to support their strategic role in schools. Each meeting will have a different focus, planned in response to current research and priorities, and will also allow for time to share school developments and best practice, as well as to network with other English subject leaders.
Securing Foundations in English in Years 1&2 (two-part course)
Course date June 28, 2022
This two-part course will provide teachers with an overview of the progression of knowledge and skills in reading and writing on which their year group’s curriculum is built and then the opportunity to consider how gaps in previous learning may be addressed and effective teaching strategies employed to secure the foundations of the curriculum on which new learning can be built.
Securing Foundations in English in Years 3&4 (two-part course)
Course date June 29, 2022
This two-part course will provide teachers with an overview of the progression of knowledge and skills in reading and writing on which their year group’s curriculum is built and then the opportunity to consider how gaps in previous learning may be addressed and effective teaching strategies employed to secure the foundations of the curriculum on which new learning can be built.
Securing Foundations in English in Years 4&5 (two-part course)
Course date June 30, 2022
This two-part course will provide teachers with an overview of the progression of knowledge and skills in reading and writing on which their year group’s curriculum is built and then the opportunity to consider how gaps in previous learning may be addressed and effective teaching strategies employed to secure the foundations of the curriculum on which new learning can be built.
Today's #fundersfriday shout out is to All Souls College, Oxford for their kind donation to support our work with primary-age children across Oxfordshire, addressing the education disadvantage gap in maths and literacy. Want to know more about what we do? https://t.co/ZvFDaFN04T Read More
RT @Quest_Learning: Deadlines are fast approaching - but don't panic! There's still time to book onto next week's Writing Assessment and Mo… Read More
DId anyone else catch the fabulous Oliver Jeffers on R4 Ramblings earlier this month? His wonderful book The Great Paper Caper is a great favourite with our BookQuest children! https://t.co/YGHTFWooGj #picturebooks #literacy Read More
It's #NationalNumeracyDay and we'd like to give a big shout out to all our amazing NumSkills tutors who make maths fun and engaging for children in primary schools across Oxfordshire! https://t.co/cywCNN02c7 Read More
Deadlines are fast approaching - but don't panic! There's still time to book onto next week's Writing Assessment and Moderation sessions with the focus on cross school moderation at KS1 and KS2. Find out more #assessment #moderation https://t.co/qYuruyiqov Read More
It's #fundersfriday again and today we want to thank the @ShanlyFnd for their generosity, which will allow us to continue BookQuest sessions at Thameside Primary School, boosting reading comprehension and nurturing a love of reading! Thank you so much! https://t.co/HEO6v3Jq4x Read More
Looking forward to meeting with our hardworking Trustees this evening - lots of exciting developments to share! Here are some of them on World Book Day in the lovely Thameside library, but we will let them sit on full-sized chairs for today's meeting! #charitytrustees #teamwork https://t.co/2Za9DaXqhk Read More