What’s set to be the UK’s largest children’s literacy session, with all work from the day to be published, takes place at Harrogate’s Royal Hall on Friday, 27 May 2016 with a best-selling children’s author.
Up to 600 schoolchildren from across the district are expected to take part in The ‘Big Write’ delivered by the education experts, Pobble – a global literacy initiative for sharing primary students’ writing – and Harrogate International Festivals.
The event is part of the festival’s yearly outreach work of workshops, masterclasses, community and creative learning events.
Pupils from Years 4, 5 and 6 will take part in the interactive workshop.
To mark Harrogate International Festivals’ 50th anniversary, young writers will write short stories around the theme of time travel, featuring a story box with items from over the last 50 years to help trigger imaginations.
Winners from the day will get to read their winning entry on stage at the Royal Hall. All children taking part will have their work published and shared with the world on pobble.com
Anna Whiteley, at Pobble, said:
This is the most exciting event we’ve done to date. We’re hoping it will be a record breaker in bringing the largest number of children together taking part in our Big Write. Writing is crucial not just in terms of developing literacy, but it allows children to express themselves, and boosts confidence. This is what Pobble is all about – engaging young minds and giving children a platform to share their fantastic writing.
Gemma Rowland, Operations Manager at Harrogate International Festivals, said:
We have put Harrogate on the literary map with our major book festivals, featuring the biggest authors at work. It’s important to us that we use our platform to engage and inspire young people in the district as part of our educational work in the community to help not only raise literacy levels but inspire future generations. They could one day be the stars of our future festivals.
Schools are invited to bring along Year 4, 5 or 6 pupils for The Big Write, 9.45-11.45am at the Royal Hall, Harrogate. To take part in the free event, contact Anna: anna@pobble.com
