Storytelling, story listening and oracy have a vital role in the development of children’s reading and writing skills as they progress through school.   We are delighted to be working with storyteller, writer and teacher, Patrick Ryan, to deliver this day.

The training will include:

• sharing research in cognitive and neurological sciences
• a study of storytelling practice in education,
• explore how storytelling is a practical aspect of oracy
• how story listening experiences impact on reading and writing
• an ideas bank of activities to implement storytelling in the classroom

The session will combine theory and research with practical activities, allowing delegates the opportunity to identify the connections between oral storytelling, literacy and creative writing.   Delegates will develop a bank of activities, the skills and confidence to deliver story telling back in school.

Current research into the impact of storytelling on children’s attainment in reading and writing indicates that it has a number of added value outcomes, beyond what shared story book activity provides.   Besides attainment in literacy, evidence suggests story listening experience contributes to the development of self regulation and critical thinking, as well as empathy and a sense of community.

For further information, please see the More Than A Story flyer.  To book, please visit Leeds for Learning.

Writing and performing poetry took Andy from open mic nights, to booked gigs, to festival slots, and slam wins, to bookings abroad, British Council trips and commissions to write new work. The largest part of Andy’s creative training is now reading both fiction and creative writing theory.

Andy has been delivering workshops in schools since 2008 and thoroughly enjoys it!

“Part of the joy of working in schools is that every day, even after having taught 20,000 young people, somebody writes something that surprises me. Young people are generally better lateral thinkers than adults, so it can be because the idea or image is unexpected or surprising, but it can also be because the writing is honest and brave, or because it is beautifully phrased.”

More than technical expertise, Andy’s job is about enabling young people to take risks in their writing and performance by diminishing self consciousness and embarrassment. Andy encourages young people grow in confidence and own their creativity. Nothing comes out right first time, and Andy is happy to show how his first drafts of work prove this. But through discussion and facing difficulties, powerful poetry can emerge even from the most reluctant of learners.

Andy believes art and creativity is vital to human well-being. Countless studies show it, and Andy himself feels happiest when he has been making something. “It’s a chance for people to play, to question, to put forward a personal point of view. With seemingly less and less freedom in teaching and with less focus on the arts and more on business and enterprise, it’s imperative that artists go into schools.”  In Andy’s eyes, young people get to see that, whether it is poetry, painting or music, an art can be learnt and practiced; it is not some form of magic performed by art-creatures, but a learnable craft done by people like them.

To see more about Andy’s work, please visit his website: andypoetry.com

Schools are expected to promote British Values through the Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural development of their pupils and we are here to help with applying this to your curriculum!

Britain: Right and Wrong is a cross curricular half day training session, exploring how aspects of ‘Promoting British Values’ can be brought to life and developed through the medium of poetry.

For more information please see the Britain: Right & Wrong Flyer (PDF)

Sketchbooks – Due to popular demand we are running another ‘Sketchbooks in School’ session, helping demystify the use of sketchbooks! For more info please see the Sketchbooks in School Flyer (PDF)

Storytelling through Drama for KS1 – a practical, creative drama session aimed at KS1 teachers using traditional fairy tales as a stimulus. For more info please see the Storytelling through Drama for KS1 Flyer (PDF)

Britain: Right and Wrong  – This practical, cross curricular half day training session will look at how aspects of ‘Promoting British Values’ can be brought to life and developed through the medium of poetry. For more info please see the Britain: Right & Wrong Flyer (PDF)

Getting Started with Project-Based Learning – This practical day will take senior leaders and teachers through the key stages of planning and managing pupil led projects. For more info please see the Project Based Learning Flyer (PDF)

Drama for Thought, Talk and Writing – This practical training day will provide teachers with a powerful toolbox, from which to design lessons for children, as thinkers, talkers and writers. For more info please see the Drama for Thought, Talk and Writing Flyer (PDF)