Storytelling in Schools
Visits to schools are normally for a day, which will usually be four performances of 60 minutes and a book signing at some point, usually at the end of the day.
This can be varied, however, depending on the circumstances.
For example at the Primary level John usually works with Year 1 upwards, but if it's important that your Reception class have a session then it's best for them to have a shorter session on their own at the start of the day, The session for the oldest children can then be extended to make up the time.
If your school is particularly large he can do five sessions of 40 minutes, as long as the maximum numbers aren't exceeded.
With key stage three and above the day works best as three sessions of 80 minutes so that there's time to develop themes more fully or for John to answer questions at the end.
Please feel free to discuss this when you get in touch.
A day's visit costs £300
It may also be possible to arrange a morning of either 2 sessions of 60 minutes or 3 of 40 minutes, which would cost £250.
Evening performances
are of 60 - 90 minutes length and cost £150
Please note that, depending on how far away you are, there may also be a charge for expenses. Please see the note at the bottom of the page.
Please also note that payment is by cheque at the end of the visit unless previously arranged.
Storytelling in other venues
Costs for other venues are broadly similar but we do try to allow for the differences in the way events have to be organised and funded.
It may be possible, for example, to organise a morning or afternoon visit or a series of visits as part of a longer term project. Please contact John directly to discuss this.
John is happy to tell stories almost anywhere (as long as it's indoors) so if you have an unusual venue you think would benefit from a performance by John do, please, get in touch.
As well as schools and libraries he has worked in castles, churches, village halls, old people's homes, community centres, day centres, arts centres, theatres, cafes and prisons. He likes a challenge!
Making a booking
However the booking has been made, by phone or email, it must be followed immediately by a written letter of confirmation and the suggested schedule for the day.
Please write to:
John Harris
Suite 111 Dorset House
25 Duke Street
Chelmsford CM1 1TB
You will then be sent an invoice for the visit. The invoice also represents an agreement between yourself and John that the visit will take place so please read it carefully and get in touch if there is a problem of any kind.
Payment should be made by cheque on the day of the visit. (Please make cheques payable to John Harris.)
We ask for payment on the day because this keeps admin to a minimum and thus keeps costs down. If this method of payment presents a problem for your finance department please get in touch as soon as possible. Whatever the circumstances all invoices must be paid in full within 30 days of the performance.
You will also be sent a cardboard tube containing publicity material and posters for John's books, together with a photocopiable letter for parents telling them about the visit and alerting them to the fact that he'll also be signing copies of his books for those children who'd like to buy them.
We do ask that you send copies of this letter to all parents concerned rather than just telling the children - you wouldn't believe how many letters and phone calls we get from parents wanting to buy John's books after his visit to a school because they didn't know about the books until their children got home after John's visit!
The small print
John is based in Chelmsford, Essex, but is happy to travel anywhere. In the event of him travelling beyond a 50 mile radius of home, however, there is an additional charge of £50 to cover expenses (he has to get back as well, remember!). Beyond a radius of 150 miles the charge is £100 but that's the limit - unless he has to fly!
For reasons outlined elsewhere on this site the maximum audience size for storytelling sessions is 60 for reception classes, and the preferred maximum for KS1 and 2 is 100 and for KS3+ it goes back to 60.
The limit for Reception classes is an absolute upper limit and cannot be exceeded, but with older children we can be more more flexible. In the event of, for example, a particularly large school being unable to organize the visit without bigger groups then the cost is a simple, straight forward (and incredibly good value) £1 per head.
The prices quoted are for visits to one site within one organisation at one time. If you wish John to visit more than one site, or to work with people from more than one school at a time, complications will inevitably arise and so this will need to be discussed.
Please note that John does not work with children younger than reception class in schools and 5 years of age in other situations and that there can be no exceptions to this.
Please also bear in mind that because he travels such great distances on a daily basis (and seems to spend half his life on the M25) he cannot guarantee to be able to arrive in time to start the day before 9:30.