Sayers Common schoolchildren celebrate National Storytelling Week with songs and stories

Isobello’s Preschool booked professional storyteller Alys Torrance, who visited to help the children celebrate National Storytelling Week.

Emma Snell, director at Isabello’s, said: “It was fantastic to welcome professional storyteller Alys to our preschool and see how she brought stories to life in her performance storytelling style - the children were totally captivated.”

Alys told pupils lots of stories, including the rabbit that laughed himself all the way to the moon, how stories came into being all across the world, and sang Ol’ John Rabbit, an traditional song about a rabbit that steals food from the garden.

Alys said: “There is nothing better than being transported into another world with a great story.

It has been proven that listening to stories helps to develop literacy and writing later on, and above all it is one of the greatest pleasures there is.

“It is fantastic to see Barratt promoting storytelling and encouraging the pupils’ imaginations to flourish.”

Set up in 2000 by The Society for Storytelling, National Storytelling Week has been used to highlight the importance of stories and storytelling for young and old to enjoy.

The visit was supported by housebuilder Barratt Homes which is currently developing at Saxon Mills, on London Road.

Lynnette St-Quintin, sales director for Barratt Southern Counties, said: “We were happy to support National Storytelling Week again this year.

“As part of our ongoing Education Programme, we actively promote learning experiences such as these to creatively engage pupils away from screens or tablets so were delighted to arrange Alys’ visit to the school.”