Research
& Method
Our approach
We are truly passionate about stories. But everything we do is evidence-based and firmly rooted in research in the fields of literacy and wellbeing. And we are constantly evolving to reflect the latest developments.
Rooted in research
A strong foundation
The Story Project founder, Olivia Richards experienced the magic of stories throughout her own childhood and later, as a teacher herself. Moving into the world of research, she was awarded a prestigious Churchill Fellowship in 2016 and travelled to the US and Canada to research how reading and writing can support young people’s mental health in schools, charities and even prisons.
Academic acclaim
Olivia’s work developing The Story Project has, and always will be, firmly rooted in high-quality research and evidence. She has received academic acclaim, including a Farmington Scholarship awarded by the University of Oxford in 2020 to look at the impacts of The Story Project, and more recently a Scholarship from the Vice Chancellor of St Mary’s University, to extend her research into a PhD.
Further Reading
Our Method
Using the latest research and evidence base, we’ve designed two models that underpin The Story Project programmes. It’s an integrated approach that delivers results by ensuring every child has the best opportunity to learn and practise wellbeing. We’ve called these two models our Learning Principles and our Lesson Structure.
Learning Principles
Our Learning Principles flow around four central tenets.
They work together to create a positive learning environment, engage the children and encourage appropriate and reflective enquiry. This effective, safe and inclusive methodology allows children to learn wellbeing skills through stories and, most importantly, be able to transfer and practise them in real life.
Lesson Structure
A step-by-step guide
Our unique lesson structure is based around the word STORY. Each step is mapped out to help you make the most of The Story Project lessons in the classroom. It ensures every aspect of our research is incorporated and contains five elements that can be applied to any children’s story.
- SSETTLING: Each lesson opens with a guided relaxation exercise connected to the chosen fictional text. This helps the children to be still and to focus their minds, ready for learning.
- TTRAINING: Teachers spend time training children in the key emotional and wellbeing vocabulary found within the text. This involves looking at expressions in pictures and short phrases from the story to build an understanding of how emotions look and feel.
- OOBJECTIVE: Each lesson is based around a wellbeing objective from the curriculum. Teachers check that children understand and are focussed on that objective, and that children know what they are looking out for.
- RREAD: Teachers read the story to the class and ask pre-prepared reflective questions related to the characters’ wellbeing. By focusing on the experiences of fictional characters, children can explore and discuss complex issues safely, without needing to refer to their personal experiences.
- YYOU Activity: An activity or exercise that allows the child to relate the learning to themselves.
Featured Publication
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LoremOur Partners
We’re grateful to the following organisations for their funding and support. With their help, we are building a community to inspire lifelong wellbeing.
Featured In
We’re proud of what others have to say about us. Take a look at some of the media coverage we’ve attracted.
The Story Project Vision
We believe in a future where all children have the tools, skills and knowledge they need to practise life-long wellbeing, making healthier choices for themselves and others.
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