Having me as your Writer in Residence enables me to work in a sustained way with a group of pupils and their teachers, over the course of a half-term or full term. This lets me invite children to wade deeper into the waters of poetry and creative writing, giving us time to read, explore texts, write our own and perform.

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I am a published children's author, and I write alongside my teaching work.

My writing for children is focused on mythology, and includes fiction and non-fiction.

You can see my books here.

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This longer-term deployment - usually involving weekly sessions - enables me to really practise what I preach, and work alongside teachers to show how the teaching of poetry and writing can not only develop children's abilities as writers; it can provide space for reflection, for the development of self-understanding, and for us ti look at the relational dynamics at play in our class.

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Poetry is usually the focus.

 

Poetry can be pure jollity and it can also be the joy of linguistic struggle. 

It can be serious and it can be silly.

It can rhyme or not.

I strive for both sides, and all that falls in between.

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Our workshops bring joy, laughter and happiness alongside the forming of a literate life.

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And school isn't preparation for life... it is life.

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As such, I strive to make these residencies something that all children can enjoy.

I shift my approach to meet the needs of the pupils I work with.

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Writing is for everyone.

 

 Writing residencies help children and their teachers to see this to be a truth, rather than a platitude.

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Schools that have had me in to teach poetry and creative writing workshops include:

 

Glade Primary School, Ilford, UK

Manor Junior School, Barking, UK

Shiv Nadar School, Chennai, India

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