Young poets from Devon’s primary schools recently demonstrated their talent by writing and performing original poetry.
The week-long project, sponsored by the Somerset Literacy Network (SLN), was led by award-winning children’s poet James Carter. Pupils from five schools participated: Axminster Primary School, Ilfracombe First School, Feniton Primary School, Honiton Primary School, and Wynstream Primary School in Exeter.
Carter, who has written fifty children’s books, conducted workshops to inspire a love of reading and language among the students. The project concluded with performances where each school presented their work in libraries or school halls, much to the delight of parents and carers.
Carter, a National Poetry Day Ambassador, praised the children for their impressive poems. He said, “The children really did their schools proud by writing such excellent poems. They clearly enjoyed reading them out to parents and carers at the end of each day.”
He highlighted the project’s unique aspect: bringing poetry and creativity into libraries, which allowed children and families to enjoy the experience together. “My mission as a poet is to show adults how immediate and accessible poetry is, and that words belong in the community, not just in schools,” he added.
The SLN is managed by Libraries Unlimited, which oversees Devon and Torbay’s 54 libraries. The workshops and performances were funded by Arts Council England in 2023 to support arts and creativity projects throughout the county.
SLN manager Dora Allen expressed her excitement about watching the children grow in confidence with their language skills and their love for reading and writing. “James makes everything fantastic fun for them, and the audience at the performances was delighted,” she said.
Founded in 2010, the Somerset Literacy Network aims to provide member schools with high-quality English support and resources. In 2023, Libraries Unlimited rebranded it as the Schools Literacy Network (SLN), benefiting over 350 schools across the South West and beyond. The network offers workshops, online support, and consultancy to foster a love of books and reading among primary school children.
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