Welcome to the first update from The Story Starts with You project. This bulletin is aimed at keeping you updated about the project and what’s been happening and what’s coming up.

As part of the Paul Hamlyn Teacher development fund, we are one of only eight projects across the UK who have received funding this year so it is a real privilege to be working alongside schools, staff and children as part of this project.

The schools taking part are: Abraham Moss, Bowker Vale, St Ethelbert’s, St Gregory’s, St Luke’s and The Divine Mercy.

Over the course of this year, the teachers will have the opportunity to work closely with a brilliant group of storytellers to discover new ways to support learning, engage children and bring more fun and creativity into their daily practice.

Collaborative Development Day

We held our first teacher development day in October where we welcomed teachers from all our project schools along with our 6 brilliant storytellers. Jan Blake and Hafsah Aswan led two creative storytelling workshops where the teachers we able to get a taster of storytelling. There was also chance to work with Jana Kennedy our professional coach who is going to be working with the teachers throughout the project.

This Term

Storytellers will be visiting schools twice over the remainder of the Autumn Term. They have planned some whole school storytelling activities to launch the project as well as time to meet classes they are going to be working with and build an understanding of the setting.

Next Term

Teachers will get to experience another two creative storytelling workshops as part of a Teacher Development Day, as well as time to think about specific uses for story and storytelling in their settings.

If you’d like to learn more about The Story Starts with You, please contact hannah@z-arts.org