About Us
Why does teaching have to feel this way?
It doesn’t have to.
We founded Teaching From Text because, like you, we love being primary school teachers — but we were exhausted. We were passionate about delivering exceptional English lessons for KS1 and KS2, yet desperate to regain a healthy work-life balance. The endless hours spent creating lesson plans, writing model texts, and finding the perfect book were taking their toll.
As teachers, we all want to offer inspiring, high-quality English lessons that engage every pupil. We want to build book-based English schemes of work, teach creative writing, and use inclusive, diverse texts that bring stories to life. But with only a couple of hours of Planning, Preparation, and Assessment (PPA) time each week, how is that realistic?
It isn’t — unless you sacrifice your evenings, weekends, and wellbeing.
That’s why Teaching From Text exists.
We do the heavy lifting — so you don’t have to.
We find the best books, write fully resourced KS1 and KS2 English lesson plans, and build detailed, ready-to-teach schemes of work aligned with the National Curriculum. Our resources are differentiated, engaging, and designed to save teachers countless hours of prep time.
Every resource includes:
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Detailed lesson plans with clear objectives and modelled writing
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Teaching videos and visual aids to support classroom delivery
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Printable activities and assessment opportunities
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Hand-drawn illustrations that bring the text to life
We create time for teachers — without compromising quality.
Teaching From Text helps teachers teach better — and live better.
Our book-based English planning resources for KS1 and KS2 are crafted by real teachers who understand the classroom. They’re designed to inspire pupils, align with curriculum goals, and free you from the endless cycle of planning.
With Teaching From Text, you can spend less time preparing and more time doing what you love — teaching, engaging, and inspiring your students.
And when the school day ends, you can finally have time for yourself, your family, and your life outside the classroom.
The Creative Team
Nicola Talbot
I grew up with a mild obsession with stationery! So naturally, after completing a degree in geography, I completed my PGCE and qualified as a Primary School teacher in 2007 where I had free access to green pens!
I have taught in a range of schools - both state and private schools. This includes teaching in Malawi, studying teaching in America and going on an exciting journey to the Netherlands where I loved teaching in a British school for three years and riding my bicycle wherever I went!
In have taught all across the Primary Key Stages and have had a range of leadership roles including being a Reading Lead Teacher and an English Lead Teacher. I have also fulfilled the role of a Middle Leader where I achieved the qualification of a Mastery Specialist in maths.
For many years I was incredibly happy being a Primary school teacher and couldn't believe that I got paid for doing something I loved so much! But what I didn't take any notice of was the hours I was working. Every evening and one day each weekend- without fail - I would be tapping away on my laptop planning and creating resources.
It wasn't until I had my first child, that I was absolutely desperate to find a balance. I wanted to continue doing the job I love but I certainly wasn't going to sacrifice time with my family, my energy levels or my wellbeing for it.
I knew I wasn't alone in the desperation to find a balance for teachers: reducing the pressure without compromising the quality in the classroom.
That's when Teaching From Text was born!
Davina Stapley
For as long as I can remember, I have always loved drawing, reading, weightlifting...and talking. My passion for reading, drawing and talking all led beautifully to a career in teaching! Whereas weightlifting became a coping mechanism...I would train on my way home from school. This was both for my wellbeing and to give me enough energy to open the laptop once home and crack on with work for another couple of hours. Plus, it helped me sleep!
Education has always been my home! Many years ago, at the turn of the century, I was employed as a Teaching Assistant and over the years I have progressed within my career doing exactly what I loved. I have taught children across a range of schools, including mainstream and special needs education, and I have fulfilled the roles of Art Leader and Resilience Leader among many other roles.
I have always been so happy in my career and putting in the hours. However, when I had my daughter, she was always going to be the priority and the way I had managed my time was no longer manageable. I needed to find a balance between my family life, teaching the wonderful children and my passions.
This is when Teaching From Text was created! An opportunity to read endless high-quality books, an opportunity to draw the hand-drawn illustrations, a chance to leave my evenings planning free whilst still ensuring lessons are of an outstanding quality, and most importantly, putting my family, and myself, first.