Catherine currently offers the following school visits:
EYFS / Key Stage 1
Catherine’s workshops for EYFS and Key Stage 1 are full of fun and action! Catherine reads her picture books and then creates a story with the children. In live visits children are encouraged to act out different actions and emotions in the stories – ideally with lots of jumping around and noise! Visits can include crafts if requested.
The following visit durations are recommended. Pricing is for a single class:
EYFS – 35mins story session – £90 / 60mins with an additional craft activity – £135.
KS1 – 40mins story session with Q&A – £110 / 60mins with an additional craft activity – £135.
Please drop Catherine a line for suggested durations and pricing for multi-class sessions.
Key Stage 2
Catherine currently offers two workshops for Key Stage 2 pupils:
- ‘Brilliant Beginnings, Magnificent Middles and Excellent Endings’ – Catherine explains the importance of story structure and what makes a brilliant beginning, a magnificent middle and an excellent ending.
- ‘Creating Cracking Characters’ – Catherine explores what is needed to create a brilliant character and how character drives a story.
The visit will leave plenty of time for questions about Catherine’s life as a writer and where she finds story inspiration.
KS2 – 60 mins for a single class – £135.
Please drop Catherine a line for suggested durations and pricing for multi-class sessions.
Whole School Assemblies
Catherine also offers an interactive whole school assembly, where she creates a story with the children and explains all the steps of getting a book published. Followed by Q&A.
Whole School Assembly – 45mins – £120
Catherine is always happy to put together a bespoke program to suit your needs.
Testimonials:
“Our children were thrilled and enthralled by Catherine’s retelling of the King of the Swamp. They particularly enjoyed acting out the different characters and are looking forward to using what they learnt about characterisation in their writing. One child in Year 1 was so inspired she went home that evening and wrote her own story book complete with illustrations. Thank you so much Catherine.”
Mary Nicholls – Steeple Bumpstead Primary School
“The children in Abbot’s Hill Pre-Prep loved their World Book Day with Catherine. Her story was engaging and the children loved that the swamp was saved! They were inspired to create their own swamps and insect gardens to help wildlife grow and have asked again and again for me to re-read her story.“
Joanne Wallace – Abbot’s Hill Pre-Prep
“I really loved it!!!!!!” “It was amazing!” “The author visit was really fun and she helped me get better at writing.” “I really liked it. It was super fun. I read the books I got all the time.” “I loved it when she read her books to us.” “I liked it when we got to make up our own story.”
Y3 / Y4 children – Felsted Prep School
“Catherine, Thank you so so so so very much for your time yesterday. The children were absolutely buzzing and couldn’t wait to tell me all about you. You clearly have a great theatrical vibe about you, which the children clearly connected with. You are providing a wonderful service through literature for children all over the world – thank you from us!”
Kiron Kular, Assistant Headteacher, Dilkes Academy
“I had nothing but positive feedback from both staff and children. Staff in particular mentioned the rapport you had with the children and how engaged they were. Many of the staff also said how interesting it was to learn more about how books were published. The children loved working with you and I have already received several stories that children went away and wrote after working with you.
Thank you once again for making the day such fun.”
Brian Chambers, Deputy Headteacher, Cressing Primary School
“Thank you so much for the storytelling this morning. All teachers have told me how much they enjoyed it and the kids all want to buy copies of your books. We loved your stories!!!! “
Alison Boyd, DH Christie Memorial Primary
“Can I just say an enormous thank you for this afternoon! The children absolutely loved it and all of the adults said it was just brilliant!“
Jenny Barter, St Margaret’s, Solihull