What I can offer
KS1
​Storytelling and Storymaking
When I visit to share stories with younger children, the sessions will be interactive and can include percussion if appropriate. I love weaving together the ideas of younger pupils, and will happily work with a class group to create their own stories to be shared and kept.
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I have various age appropriate stories, but if you have a suggestion that works with your current topic work or theme then I will happily adapt my session.
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Poetry
Although the word poetry can put children off, I find they get a real thrill from seeing their words juggled into a poem. I can work with small or whole class groups, either around a current theme or as a new start to a project.
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Inspiration Days
Perhaps you don't need an intervention every week, but would like me to come in as one part of a wider project - an Arts Week for instance. With KS1 I am happy to do a one day event which leads into, or rounds-off, a current piece of work. It is never too soon to develop language and I would offer a series of leaping off points for further writing.
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Writing Outdoors
There is so much inspiration in the open-air. I can run a whole or part session outside of school. (Given the nature of organising school trips, this can just be in the school grounds/garden/playground.) Observation is key and I will happliy lead a session to 'forage' for language and ideas with KS1, as much as with older children and young people.
KS2 & KS3
Reluctant writers
You know the ones - they have loads of ideas that they call out in class, but ask them to get their ideas down on paper and they often only write a single sentence. At KS2 it can be vital that pupils produce work, if only to show their progress. At KS3 too they should be able to manipulate their ideas onto the page, and my role with small targeted groups is to make sure they are unearthing ideas and crafting them into coherent pieces of writing.
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Whole Class Activity
In the creative writing of young people at KS2 & 3 we should be able to hear their unique voice. Generating that voice would be a key aim for my sessions. When working with a whole class group I will of course differentiate across ability groups, but I will also hold high expectations for what they can create.
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Drama for Writing
This has been something I have developed over recent years, drawing on my background in youth theatre and youth arts. Drama for Writing is about creating an environment where young people as authors inhabit worlds and characters in order to give their writing greater clarity. Use of drama techniques can influence narrative and descriptive writing, and lead to greater confidence in sharing their work.
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Junk modelling
In my experience, those young people who lack inspiration in their writing often don't have a frame of reference for their creativity. By using junk modelling or Lego construction or visual artworks, together we create pieces around which they may develop language and ideas.
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Poetry
Ask young people to write a poem and many will baulk at the prospect. But ask them for a dozen words to describe 'snow', then to write a piece not using any of them and they will often rise to the challenge. In my poetry sessions I will aim to get young people to steer away from rhyme as this can be a distraction. Instead we will uncover poetic images and new models of poetry to discover new layers of language.
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Fables
Story writing can include a moral twist and I have run sessions for KS2 and KS3 where the authors are aiming to impart a particular message. These can be run as part of a PSHE course rather than for literacy as required.
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Writing Outdoors
There is so much inspiration in the open-air. I can run a whole or part session outside of school. (Given the nature of organising school trips, this can just be in the school grounds/garden/playground.) Observation is key and I will happily lead a session to 'forage' for language and ideas with KS2 & 3, as much as with younger children.
Costs
All workshops are tailormade to meet the needs of your School Development Plan. As a result fees will vary and are negotiated accordingly. The figures below are offered as a useful guide.
Half day (upto 3hrs) £150
Whole day (upto 6hrs) £250
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Areas covered
I am based in the South West of England, within easy reach of:
Bath
Bradford-on-Avon
Frome
Midsomer Norton
Radstock
Shepton Mallet
Trowbridge
Warminster
Westbury
Wells
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Little bit further afield:
Bristol
Chippenham
Devizes
Glastonbury
Salisbury
Weston-super-Mare
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As you may have read, I work in Edinburgh each summer, so I am clearly willing to travel. For work that takes me more than 20 miles from home, I would expect to charge travel expenses by negotiation.
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DBS Check
My most recent EnhancedDBS check is dated October 2019.
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Willing, of course, to undertake further checks as required.
Teachers
Inset​
​I am not fool enough to think I am the only person who can deliver this type of work. Often focussing on Drama for Writing I can offer sessions in creative writing approaches for teachers and support staff.
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My sessions will provide leaping-off points for further writing as well as giving suggestions as to the direction that written work can take, and potential curriculum links.
I have worked with established teachers and with teacher trainees at Bath Spa Uni. I can provide twilight sessions or whole day experiences.