Film by Dan Canham

This is a fun, story-generating workshop with Somerset children’s author Emma Bettridge and her dog Nell. During the workshop, we will go for a walk down to a secret location where we will gather to write and use dictaphones to record stories and ideas.  It is a relaxed, interesting and inspiring workshop for children aged 5-7 years.

Please note that the workshop involves Nell the dog – a very friendly and lovely Labrador x Golden Retriever (please don’t bring any animals of your own with you on the walk, thank you).

At the end of the session, there will be an opportunity to purchase a signed copy of Emma’s books, Goodbye Hobbs & Red is Home.

Session for ages 5-7 years (children must be accompanied by an adult)

What people said:

HERNE VIEW CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL

Thank you for this and those pictures truly made me smile as it was obvious all the children had an amazing time. Your observations of the children were so accurate and much appreciated. All children came back very excited. R was the most enthusiastic and wanted to read his story to the class. E also stood up and told the whole class about it. S was a bit more reserved and didn’t want to talk to the class but she told me that it was fun. All in all, it seems like a very positive experience!

Children’s views:

A said he really liked being able to draw and write.

S said she had enjoyed writing stories with you.

E liked meeting an author and then added that he loved everything!

R liked that the dogs and horses helped them write.

B liked it when you roasted marshmallows.

We then generally had a chat and they added:

• Loved getting a book on the second day and all had taken it home for adults at home to read to them.
• Liked being able to tell people their ideas and then have help to write them down.
• Helped them when adults helped to get ideas for a story from the walks, being with the horses or going in the fields.
• One child felt the dogs gave lots of ideas for writing stories.
• 4 of the children felt they were now writing more in class after the visits and all of them said the visits made them more confident to write.
• Finally the highlight was apparently building the assault course with the tunnel that Rosie (little terrier) kept running through!

Wellesley Park Primary School

A handful of children in Year 1 and 2 were lucky enough to go for a walk with our visiting author Emma and her dog Nell, this afternoon.

Emma first visited Wellesley Park on World Book Day and has stayed in touch ever since.

Today, she was leading a creative writing session called ‘Stories in the Wild’. The children walked and talked and used their surroundings to inspire creative ideas. Needless to say, they absolutely LOVED it.

A big thank you to Emma for sharing her passion for stories with our aspiring writers.

“It was the part when we go in the trees.” – M, aged 6

“It was the best because we could do writing and draw stuff and we got to keep the notebook.” – L, aged 7.

Stories in the wilds is made possible by the brilliant Arts Council England project grants.

A recent transcript from Arthur, aged 5 using a child-friendly dictaphone

My name is Arthur

With the 

The

Bunny and the cat

And the barbies on holiday and

ONE HUNDRED cats are going with them

My name is Arthur

With the barbie and

With the barbie and the cat and the bunny and the cats the ONE MILLION CATS and there’s, there’s loads of spiders coming as well!

My name is Arthur

With the bunny and the cats and the barbie

Theres

Cat

An ant

And lots

Of 

The cats

My name is Arthur

With the bunny

And the cats

And the ants

And the spiders

And with the locks

And with the cats

My name is Arthur

And all the animals are at holiday now and the people and the BUNNY!

And the LOBSTER

Hurray!

My name is Arthur

And all of those

And there’s loads of people

And there

And arrows 

And cats 

And bogs

And spider bogs 

And a lobster

And people

ARTHUR

And there’s loads of bugs and flowers and 

And 

And all of it is at holiday HA-RAY! 

My name is Arthur

And all of the people and the animals are at holiday

HA-RAY

All of the bugs

And all of the people and the animals

Aren’t on holiday

They’re coming back from holiday

To their house

My name is Arthur

Both the rabbit and the cat and Barbie’s going on holiday with them

My name is Arthur

This is a story about a rabbit going on holiday.

My name is Arthur

I’m gonna do a story of the rabbit going on Holiday