An example of practice: Petworth Primary School
Using books to support diversity and empathy case study.
Petworth Primary School is a semi-rural school in the town of Petworth in the Chichester area. It has about 160 children aged 4 to 11. More children than average have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
Clare Wiggs is the school’s senior mental health lead. She applied for a “Thriving in Education” grant to get funding for this work. She worked with the school librarian, who is also a higher level teaching assistant.
Background
In summer 2024, Petworth Primary School became one of the first schools to receive this grant from West Sussex.
The grant lets schools apply for money to improve how they support mental health and emotional wellbeing across the whole school. Petworth Primary School received £667. They chose to use the money to update the books in their library.
Like many areas in Chichester, the school has changed in recent years. More families now come from different backgrounds. When the school asked pupils for their views, they said the library books did not show the world they see around them. Clare explained that the school is no longer just “white British” and that they had not noticed how much diversity was missing from their books.
Research shows that when children see themselves in books, it helps them feel good about who they are. In her book Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors, Rudine Sims-Bishop explains that books can act like windows, showing us other worlds and like mirrors, helping us see ourselves and our own lives.
More research from the University of Sussex shows that reading about people who are different from us helps children build an understanding of how others feel. This helps children build strong relationships, which supports their emotional wellbeing.
Implementation
Books the school bought
Some of the books the school bought are:
In My Mosque by M O Yuksel
Explains what happens inside a mosque and what it is like to be Muslim.
The Day War Came by Nicola Davies
Shows what it feels like to become a refugee.
My Skin Your Skin by Laura Henry-Allain
Helps children talk about race and feel proud of who they are.
My Shadow is Pink by Scott Stuart
Explores gender identity and being true to yourself.
It’s a No Money Day by Kate Milner
Shows what life is like for a family who needs a food bank.
Pearl and Her Bunch by Momoko Abe
Shows that families come in many different forms.
Sparks of Imagination by Stephen Hogtun
Encourages children to believe in themselves.
The Water Princess by Gabriel Badiel
Shows that not everyone has easy access to clean water.
The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow
Explores friendships and finding your place.
A Hero Like Me by Jen Reid
Encourages children to stand up for what they believe in.
Mama Car by Lucy Catchpole
Shows that being disabled does not stop you from living a full life.
The Can Caravan by Richard O’Neill
Celebrates Traveller culture and values like loyalty and independence.
Grandad’s Camper and Pride by Harry Woodgate
Explores LGBT+ history and family relationships.
Nour’s Secret Library by Wafa Tarnowska
Shows how books can help people through difficult times.
To see the full list, contact thrivingin.education@westsussex.gov.uk.
Full list
To see the full list, contact thrivingin.education@westsussex.gov.uk.
Outcomes
Pupils enjoyed reading new books and liked how they felt. They also saw more different life experiences in the stories. This helped them understand the world better. The books also helped pupils talk more about diversity and how people live in different ways.
Clare said the project helped staff think about how the school has changed. The school now has children from many cultures, including refugees and children from different social and economic backgrounds.