RAPS Readers Inspired By Creative Authors

The school further enhanced its reputation for offering a varied balance of literature for all ages when authors brought their stories alive when they visited younger classes.

Marcella Ferriera worked with the reception group and shared her book 'I Could Have Been Eaten by a Shark' which discusses fears and the children were invited to share their fears and talk about how to overcome them.

They then tried their hand at drawing illustrator Mark Chambers’ distinctive hammerhead shark that features in the story.

Year 1 pupils were visited by Nicola Kent who shared her book 'Cat and Dumpling, Home Sweet Home'. They explored the themes of the book and talked about who they would want to share a flat with, before using creative skills to draw the main characters.

The visit was organised by Nicci Rosengarten from the Happy Reading Shop in Broadstairs as part of Independent Bookshop Week.

She said: “It was delightful to collaborate with RAPS. Our mission is to inspire children to have a passion for books, and to feel they can use their imaginations to express themselves through storytelling and illustration. Holding author events in schools is a vital part of our outreach work within our local community, and we can't wait to return for more children's literary events at Ramsgate Arts Primary School.

“The pupils warmed to Marcella’s bubbly personality and loved finding out about her childhood in Brazil, what it was like to relocate to the UK when she was a teenager, and how she developed her own fears around confidence in the classroom. After reading her book (in her fab shark costume) the children talked about their own fears - the dark, tornadoes, spiders, caterpillars, and werewolves.”

Referring to Nicola Kent’s visit, she added: “The children thoroughly enjoyed a fully interactive event, learning all about Nicola, her characterful cat and dog at home who might occasionally be a help (or not) to her creative process, and her adorable early chapter book characters ‘Cat and Dumpling’.

“Nicola talked all about her inspiration, about living in flats, houses, and more. She led a Cat and Dumpling draw-along, and a ‘friends we would like to live with’ creative writing/drawing activity.”

Teacher Claire O’Flaherty is RAPS Reading lead. She said: “We are very passionate about reading for pleasure and understand how important author visits are for children and their reading progress. These visits can spark children's engagement with books, inspiring a love for literature amongst our young learners.

“Our groups loved the author-led workshops, asked interesting questions about characters and really showcased their creativity with their illustrations.

“We are very thankful to Nicci at Happy Reading for organising these brilliant workshops.”

Ramsgate Arts Primary is part of the Viking Academy Trust with its partner schools Chilton Primary in Ramsgate and Upton Juniors in Broadstairs.

**Contact Head of School Nick Budge on 01843 582847