Thursday November 7th 2024

Dear Diary,

The pupils at Ledbury Primary were so lively during today’s visit that they wore me out! But as well as having limitless energy, they also have fantastic imaginations that know no bounds. The characters and stories they came up with during my workshops were superb… and so original. I think my favourite of all has to be Peyton’s acrostic poem about a headteacher who was hiding a secret. It was so cleverly crafted, right down to the headteacher’s favourite dinner — Kentucky fried children!!! There are so many aspiring authors at Ledbury Primary, including Alex, Monty, Olivia, Finlay, Warren, Lux, Cerys, Isaac, and Riley, to name but a few. In fact, my stash of certificates has depleted to such an extent today that I’m going to have to print off a whole load more tonight, ready for tomorrow’s visit! Along with today’s workshops, my assembly this morning was also a spirited affair. With so many hands in the air throughout (and many of the pupils forgetting what they were going to ask or say once they were called upon to answer), it was clear that everyone really wanted to get involved, right from the off. And every time my narrator voiced a question during the opening chapters of WARNING: Magic Can Be Dangerous!, the Reception and KS1 pupils delightfully responded aloud. It really made me chuckle. (The look of relief on the teachers’ faces at one point — when they realised I was only joking about throwing a big bundle of bookmarks into the audience for the pupils to catch — was priceless, too!) I’m shattered, but so grateful to Paige for organising my visit. The staff and pupils were all phenomenal, too, participating in everything throughout the day. But now I must sleep!!!