On 14th July three Year 5 pupils from Alexandra Junior School’s Library Team, Elizabeth Sawyer (10), Ellie Clarke (9) and Alice Scurfield (10) were one of five winning groups invited to perform their version of “How Doth the Scary Centipede” by Roger Stevens (from WONDERLAND: Alice in Poetry by Michaela Morgan) at the National Theatre on Friday 14th July. The competition was part of a Schools Shadowing Scheme from the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) This free scheme provides excellent resources for schools to really immerse children in the world of poetry.

For three weeks in June, pupils who volunteer their lunch breaks to help run the library and support younger readers participated in Shadowing Scheme. The Reading Club, run by Miss Michaela Mihalop (Learning Mentor) became a poetry hub with the assistance of valued volunteer Ms Sally Nicholas from Holy Trinity, SE20.

The excellent resources provided via the CLPE website www.clpe.org.uk/poetryline were carefully adapted to ensure key factors and the essence of the project was captured within the time restraints of a lunch break club. It can be done, it is so much fun and it works. Pupils embraced everything with great enthusiasm never missing a session. Nine groups of children chose poems from the shortlisted books to perform and record creating their own props and costumes. The children had a wonderful day enjoying a special workshop, meeting poets and former Laureate Chris Riddell who live-drew their performance and taking part in a celebration of poetry, which they will always remember.

Submitted by Fatim Kesvani