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"The greatest thing you can give a child is the opportunity to do something great." — The Chief Rabbi
Thanks to the funding from the John Thaw Foundation and the Arts Council, Snail Tales can offer you an unrivalled storytelling package at an unbeatable price.
Discover how the world's oldest, most successfully tried and tested artform can help your children benefit from improvements to their...
- concentration across the curriculum
- confidence in speaking, listening and decision-making
- enthusiasm for learning
- memory
- imagination
...in a programme designed by a storyteller with verifiable experience (see below). For less than the cost of a single visit from an author, your school can receive:
- an afterschool training session for all staff on how to employ storytelling in the classroom
- five hours of contact time with a storyteller for a group or class of up to 30 children*
- never-ending online support, with no subscription fees
- the chance for your children to be famous!
*Extra groups available at additional cost — please see below.
How it works
On Monday, our storyteller spends an hour with your group of children taking them on an exciting journey through story space, in which they develop an awareness of storytelling culture from across the world. Our storyteller then returns at the same time every day for the rest of the week, so your children start to look forward to each new step in their exploration of story and are eager to learn.
As the week progresses, your children identify what makes stories exciting, and ultimately use their own creative play to make the fairy tales of tomorrow! Our storyteller uses improvisation techniques to demonstrate to each child that their ideas and decisions do have enormous value.
Suitability
Little Birds has proven to be successful for all year groups from year 2 and above. The workshops differentiate within themselves, so it's even possible to have mixed age or mixed ability groups!
Whether you want to help a class with writing, encourage reluctant readers, support your gifted & talented, or even just celebrate your children's creativity... Little Birds is for you.
Afterschool staff training
A fundamental part of Little Birds is the hour our storyteller will spend with all your school's staff (and, optionally, TAs). This session empowers you with practical tips for using storytelling in the classroom, right across the curriculum — from history to maths...!
Online Support
The encouragement to stay creative and keep writing doesn't leave when we do! In fact, it gets bigger and better...!
- Fun online activities that gradually build a greater understanding of story
- Access at home or school for all children who take part in workshop programme, at no cost to parents
- Storytelling videos unavailable to the public
- Competitions for real prizes, such as picture books and theatre tickets
- Extras for teachers such as lesson ideas and podcasts
And that's not all...
Every year, the best stories collected from children in Little Birds workshops or via this website are adapted into a family theatre show, which tours large and small venues throughout the whole of the UK!
Our theatrical performances give your children the potential to contribute a fresh body of traditional stories for the generations of tomorrow. Move aside, Cinderella!
Our last theatre tour received fantastic feedback. See the glowing review by The Stage, then click here to find out when we're coming near you!
The benefit of experience
Little Birds is led by Snail Tales' founder Chip Colquhoun, who is also the current Chair of the national Society for Storytelling. He is also helping the Oxford University Press develop storytelling videos for their new reading tree based on Traditional Tales (but no, he doesn't have a twin sister called Biff...).
When the Snail Tales team noticed how inspired children would be after just one storytelling performance, they just had to find a way to ensure the creativity of children would not go unnoticed. Thankfully the Arts Council agreed, and Little Birds has now been running over three years since. In that time we have amassed a huge amount of support and praise from headteachers, parents, and local authority representatives. To see just some of their feedback, click here — or, if you would prefer a list of schools who are happy to be contacted, just ask using our contact form.
Costs
Note: All prices include travel. Snail Tales does not charge VAT.
Please also note: There are no ongoing subscriptions for our online support. Your one-off payment for Little Birds entitles you to full unending access to all our online games, activities and lesson plans.
Little Birds — £500
We are confident you will not find a more cost-effective story-making programme anywhere in the world. The basic package alone allows your whole school to enjoy the benefits of Little Birds with:
- 5 hours of contact time with a storyteller for a group of up to 30 children (details)
- 1 hour afterschool staff training (details)
- Online support for little birds and their teachers (details)
- Submission of children's stories for theatrical adaptation (details)
Little Birds Travel Partners — £250 Save 50%!
All the above with a 50% discount!
NB: You must book your residency direct with Snail Tales for the same week as another school within a 5 mile radius.
Little Birds Extra Groups — £125 per group
Maximum £675
We will discuss with you in advance how best to organise your children into 2 or more workshop groups. Extra groups are not always available - please speak with us for full details.
NB: Any Travel Partner discount is applied after your subtotal for extra workshop programmes - reducing the cost to just £62.50 per group!.
Enquire now!
Our team of Little Birds storytellers visit schools throughout the academic year. However, because each programme lasts a whole week, please be advised to book as far in advance as possible.
Use the form below to make an enquiry regarding our availability. We usually reply within 2 working days.