Wild Weather at Spring Bank primary school

Sally Bavage writes:

We basked in hot sunshine at an outdoor assembly. In March! But Wild Weather poetry followed a study of the topic in the previous term, and then minds had turned more to hurricanes and tornadoes, along with snow, blizzards and torrential rain.

Our outdoor sharing of the work class 3 had written, redrafted and produced in best copy was a glorious morning in the safety of an outdoor assembly to which parents could finally attend in these allegedly post-Covid times. As usual, James Nash, local writer, author and our commissioned poet, had started with these seven- and eight-year-olds exploring inspiration and ideas and trying out some lines. They crafted their ideas by drafting and redrafting – and they had actually thought this was both essential and fun.

Finally, they had carefully rehearsed their presentations to the full class and appeared so confident in reading out their best work or lines to the invited audience of parents and other school staff. As one little girl confided to me afterwards, she had been terrified – but her confident performance and smile after her turn showed how valuable the experience had been. Another was keen to show me how she had typed up her work and others showed me the illustrations they had made for their clearly-valued poems.

Headteacher Sarah Hawes was once again so pleased with the work and the obvious joy on display. And class teaching assistant Katy commented on the “quality of the language that the youngsters had used” in their work. She knew from past experience that this shows up in their work afterwards, as well as “the increased self-confidence in themselves and their work.”

Teacher Luke Wrankmore with James Nash

James collected feedback from the petite poets together for Headingley LitFest:

Best thing:

Editing – changing things to make the better

Redrafting and putting into verses

I loved writing out my ideas

What I have learned:

Poems don't have to rhyme

Poems are GOOD

Sharing with others:

Show other people how you feel

Gaining in confidence

What you will remember

How to create a structure for a poem

Better at sharing

Thank you for another excellent workshop this week. We have had parents evening this week and several parents told me how their children have been writing poems at home - so you've definitely had a positive impact once again!

Luke Wrankmore

Class teacher

James has such an easy relationship with these small writers; they trust him and take their cue to perform with extraordinary aplomb - and it is hard to believe they are only seven or eight years old! One line from a poem: 'I come every year to blow your socks off' may have been about the wind but I think best describes the effect that James has on the young people.