The Story Spinner Learning CPD pack

'These professional development materials are fab! The planning, in particular, will definitely be of use to teachers. With all the uncertainty in education at the moment, the Story Spinner resource remains as good as ever and whatever happens with the curriculum, it will fit!'
Liz Sharp, Literacy Consultant, Milton Keynes

Our Team

Eve Bearne
Eve is an educational researcher and writer who has recently retired from the University of Cambridge
Faculty of Education. She has written and edited many books about language, literacy and children's
literature and is currently responsible for Publications for the United Kingdom
Literacy Association.

Teresa Crane
Teresa has worked for many years as a teacher in Devon and Worcestershire before becoming a Literacy
Consultant with the
National Literacy Strategy.

Pam Dowson
Pam took early retirement from Primary teaching in 2009 and has been teaching English on the Primary PGCE at Cambridge, initially as a seconded teacher, for the past 5 years, where she also has the roles of personal and placement tutor.

Rebecca Harriss
Rebecca has spent the past ten years working in London schools, initially as a class teacher, then in the role of Key Stage 1
Coordinator.

Rebecca Kennedy
Rebecca has worked as a teacher, consultant and regional adviser with the
Primary National Strategies and is now an independent consultant.

Included on the DVD

• An inspirational introduction by Phil McDermott, the storyteller.

• Eve Bearne (Cambridge University) talks about her research findings and how and why the stories have had the powerful impact shown in key aspects of literacy.

• Pam Dowson (Cambridge University) gives an extensive guide to planning. The planning model is based on the Teaching Sequence recomended by the National Strategies.

• Rebecca Harris and her Year 2 children work through a
  narrative unit, 'Sleeping Beauty', using the plan included on the CD-Rom. (KS1)

• Jacqui Hatchard's year 4 children bring 'Talk for Writing' to life. They achieve exceptional results in their writing in just weeks. (KS2)

• There are two complete stories included - 'Sleeping Beauty' and 'Granddad and the Laundry Basket'.

• The booklet contains suggestions to guide staff training sessions, including 'How to use the Story Spinner to expand existing plans' or to develop speaking and listening.

The CD-Rom contains quick links to many areas of the curriculum, to save you time and help you easily get started. And there is extensive planning for 7 entire units of work, one story from each DVD.

If you are considering using the Story Spinner DVDs in your school, take them or Story Spinner Learning on a 14-day approval. That way you have nothing to risk.

'The video clip of the Y4 class is particularly good and is an excellent example of what can be done with the stories.'
David Reedy, Senior Adviser (Primary Language
and Communication) London Borough of Barking
and Dagenham