Today (3rd March) many schools across the country will be celebrating World Book Day. World Book Day was chosen by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading. The event is marked in over 100 countries around the globe. The origins of the day come from Catalonia, where roses and books were given as gifts to loved ones on St. George’s Day – a tradition which started over 90 years ago.
CapeUK is passionate about creative education and building partnerships and networks in learning environments with creative artists, creative people, local communities and creative organisations.
CapeUK is currently working with over 150 schools that are part of the Creative Partnerships Programme throughout the region. Anns Grove Primary School is currently undertaking an Enquiry School programme, over the course of the year the school will explore how creative teaching and learning can enhance their practice and create a lasting and sustained impact.
Anns Grove Primary School, Sheffield, South Yorkshire are working on a creative project to enhance children’s literacy and oracy development through books and storytelling.
The children from nursery and reception classes are working with creative professional, Carmel Page who is a specialist in creative writing and storytelling, and has years of experience with early years literacy projects. Working in partnership with the teachers, parents and volunteers, they are exploring creative ways to teach reading and writing, generating new skills, confidence and excitement for both the adults and children involved.
Carmel Page will run workshops aimed to boost confidence, where parents will learn to tell both imagined and traditional stories to their children, using inspiration from their own childhoods, as well as exploring rhythm and rhyme.
Parents will make books from their stories and props to take home with them so they can retell the story at home with their child. Google translate will be used as a tool to help bridge the gap in languages, providing bi-lingual print outs. What is learnt together during these sessions will then be embedded into practice in the nursery with help from Punjabi and Urdu speaking volunteers.
Verity Clarke, CapeUK South Yorkshire Programme Director; “This is a wonderful example of CapeUK’s Creative Partnerships projects taking place across Yorkshire. Creative Partnerships inspires young people, creative practitioners, teachers and parents alike – giving these fantastic opportunities to be creative and access culture.”
