“Living Paintings brings children together” – Kath’s story

For Kath Hart, storytelling has always been at the heart of her classroom. With more than 23 years’ experience as a special needs teacher, she has supported children with a wide range of needs and has been able to unlock a whole new world of reading, thanks to Living Paintings.

“I’ve always loved stories and books,” she says. “I’ve spent years making story sacks and sensory resources to support learning. But I realised there wasn’t really anything out there that truly brought stories to life for children with visual impairments.”

Around four years ago, Kath began using Living Paintings books in her classroom and immediately saw how transformative it was.

“I had always included sensory objects and props in my story sacks like boards with textures, a brush for a princess’s hair, objects children could recognise. But, I wanted something that was properly linked to a story,” she explains. “When I found Living Paintings, it felt like exactly what I’d been looking for.”

Today, Kath regularly uses Living Paintings titles alongside traditional storybooks, helping children with visual impairments enjoy the same stories as their peers.

Recently, she ordered The Gruffalo to use with her class. “We’re reading it in English just now,” she says. “We’ve made story maps, and we’ll revisit it again tomorrow. As soon as I bring in a Living Paintings book, everyone wants it. The children with visual impairments share it with their classmates, and suddenly everyone’s involved.” Kath has noticed that many of her pupils love the raised tactile images.

“They often focus on the pictures even more than the braille,” she says. “That’s what makes these books so special. They’re completely unique.” Her teaching approach is rooted in sensory learning, and Living Paintings fits naturally into that philosophy.

“I teach through sensory experiences,” she explains. “If a story mentions something wet and cold, I’ll give the children something wet and cold to touch. If it’s about slime or mud, we explore textures together. It gives the story meaning.” Books like The Smeds and The Smoos by Julia Donaldson have been especially popular.

“The children were blown away by it,” she says. “We had boxes of textures, slime and soft fabrics so everything became interactive. It’s not just reading, it’s experiencing the story.” While Living Paintings supports children with visual impairments, Kath has seen benefits far beyond that group.

“It helps all the children, not just those with visual impairments,” she says. “Some pupils struggle to engage with ordinary books, but when there are raised pictures and tactile elements, they sustain their attention for much longer.”

She still remembers the first child whose relationship with reading was transformed. “One child wasn’t interested in books at all, it was just too hard,” she recalls. “When I introduced Living Paintings, it opened up a whole new world. Suddenly, they could access stories. We shared it with the parents, and I believe they’re still using the service today.”

Over the years, Kath has carefully matched books to topics and terms, using them across the curriculum. From Jasper’s Beanstalk by Nick Butterworth to Julia Donaldson favourites, the books have become a core part of her teaching toolkit. “Once the children realise it links to a story they already know, their reaction is incredible,” she says. “This year, many of my pupils are preverbal, and even they’ve responded more than I ever expected.”

She now uses the books throughout her setting, from individual sessions to whole-school events such as World Book Day.

“We’ll use them with story sacks, sensory trays, props – everything,” she says. “It adds another level and unlocks the potential of reading.”

Kath also shares her enthusiasm beyond the classroom. “I recommend them to everyone, even my grandchildren,” she laughs. “They’re eight, five and two, and they love them.”

For her, the greatest strength of Living Paintings is its inclusivity.

“I don’t think twice, I just use them with the whole class,” she says. “They bring children together. They give confidence. They make stories accessible.”

After four years of using the service, Kath is still discovering new ways it enhances learning. “I’ve used the books more this year than ever,” she says. “The reactions are just amazing. It’s the same stories they know and love but now, everyone can truly experience them.”