Mike is proud to be on the staff of Ashley
Infant School, where he works two days a week, leaving the
rest of the week available for freelance storytelling.
Ashley Infant School's Ofsted Inspection Report February 2008
stated:
"This is an outstanding school, which caters extremely
well for the needs of all its pupils. 'Together we learn, grow
and achieve' is its mission, and this is very evident in the actions
of pupils, staff and governors as they work together. In this
happy school, pupils are enthusiastic learners and competent ambassadors
of its ethos to share and respect others. Pupils are fully included
in all activities. Parents are very positive about all aspects
of the school and give excellent support. Teachers have very high
expectations based on their excellent subject knowledge. Leadership
and management are outstanding"
The school was categorised as outstanding in all the inspection
judgement areas.
Mike's job is to enrich the curriculum, bringing storytelling
into all aspects of the children's learning. One of Ashley Infant
School's targets is to promote creativity within the curriculum.
The objectives for children's attainment are:
Children to be confident to take risks in learning through
open ended tasks using an enquiry approach to learning.
To provide opportunities for children to work collaboratively
through an inclusive and creative curriculum.
Storytelling
is a vital part of this target. It is also a vital foundation
for literacy. The tools to help a child develop their literacy
are of course important; children at Ashley Infant School learn
about "phonics" (the sounds of letters, letter blends
and words), punctuation, spelling and grammar.
This is all, however, a "tool kit"; to apply it, the
children need to have something to write about, and to be enthused.
Storytelling grips their imagination, helps them develop content
for their writing, and allows them to apply their literacy "tool
kit" in a context.
Mike thinks that head teacher Pauline Dukes showed great imagination
in creating this post and is working hard to justify her trust.
Mike, of course, has every faith in the power of storytelling.
Storytelling
is a vital part of this target. It is also a vital foundation
for literacy. The tools to help a child develop their literacy
are of course important; children at Ashley Infant School learn
about "phonics" (the sounds of letters, letter blends
and words), punctuation, spelling and grammar. 