At last, a mainstream books festival event tailor-made for teachers, with most of the action out of school hours. The Lowdham Book Festival in Nottinghamshire includes a special needs book fair with a programme of readings and discussion focused at writing for reluctant readers. The fair opens at 2pm on June 21 with speakers from 4-7pm. There are talks by authors Mike Wilson, Hilary McKay and David Belbin and publisher Patience Thomson of Barrington Stoke. It’s all free (for pound;7 you can stay on for an evening event with Louis de Bernieres). Also free, on June 18, a programme of children’s and teenage events features David Almond (pictured), visiting professor in creative writing at Nottingham Trent University, whose novel Clay is shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and longlisted for the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize.

Full programme at www.lowdhambook festival.co.uk. Confirm attendance by emailing janestreeter@thebookcase.co.uk (put June 21 in the heading).