Kwan's Story app for iPhone and iPad

This interactive digital comic-book forms part of a modular scheme of work with sessions that build week-by-week. It is the second element in a suite of learning resources for children at key stage 2.

Development of the resources was commissioned in response to an increasing awareness of the challenges young people face, particularly during the pivotal transition year. These resources are the result of an 18-month long programme of research, which revealed that the experience of growing up in the UK today has changed significantly, leading a significant and increasing number of children and young people to experience an ‘affection deficit’ and consequently a heightened drive to look anywhere —regardless of the consequences— to satisfy their need to belong, for care, or for self-worth.

Specifically targeting year 6, Stolen Lives — Kwan’s Story, and the accompanying sessions are designed to support transition by building the knowledge and skills to successfully manage change, and cope with the potential for an increased vulnerability, which can often occur during the move to secondary school.
Pupils face a range of scenarios specifically designed to provoke challenging classroom conversations while building vital skills to navigate their lives. The accompanying teaching and learning resources have been developed in partnership with children and teachers to help young people explore their attitudes and opinions objectively, particularly with respect to ‘risk behaviour’. Each activity within a session introduces techniques to bolster personal resilience, encourage critical thinking and help pupils work together in building consensus and a shared sense of trust, while providing them with opportunities to test, learn and refine their skills, all within the safe confines of the classroom.
The result is a fun, interactive learning experience that explores complex ideas, while providing opportunities to critically reflect and develop strategies for everyday life.
These materials have therefore been designed to equip young people to better manage any problem they might encounter, naturally defending themselves against those sections of society that might attempt to prey upon them.

Teachers, schools or other organisations wishing to use the accompanying resource materials and lesson plans or interested in taking part in future pilots should get in touch with us directly to discuss their specific needs.

What teachers said:
“Literacy skills are incorporated the whole way through the scheme (reading, writing, speaking and listening and drama skills)…and the project fits in well with existing PSHE and Citizenship schemes of work.”
“Difficult topics can be addressed in an open and non-threatening way.”
“The materials are cross-curricular and can be incorporated easily into any school’s PSHE and Citizenship curriculum…there is room to be flexible with how and when it is taught.”
“Awareness and early intervention are key to helping children make positive life choices as they grow into young adults. This resource is an ideal way of preparing children for situations they may encounter as they become more independent.”
“Teachers will now have the most powerful tool to have that dialogue with children. It educates them through a curriculum approach, to become that better person, and make the right choices. Parents are going to be very supportive of it because every parent wants their child to make the right choice and this programme is certainly going to help them do that. It can change lives.”

What pupils said:
“I have felt more confident about talking about things that have happened”
“Wished we could have done more”
“The best activity was role playing different endings”
“Really good because it had a cliff hanger ending which made you think”
“It really helped me with bullying problems”
“Brilliant, would read it over and over”