Author Visits Are a Success at Moorlands CE Primary Academy

March 22, 2021

Moorlands Church of England Primary Academy has played host to successful Virtual Author Events for its primary school pupils.

Moorlands Church of England Primary Academy in Belton, Great Yarmouth, has played host to successful Virtual Author Events for its primary school pupils in Year 3/4, the latest, with much loved poet, author and entertainer, Neal Zetter.

Moorlands Church of England Primary Academy Headteacher, Mr Kevin Lee said: “We began hosting Virtual Author Events as part of our creative approach to online learning. Enjoyment of reading is at the heart of our teaching at Moorlands Academy, and we were very pleased to invite Neal Zetter to attend. Our pupils thoroughly enjoyed his workshop.”

Pupil, Josh, said: “I enjoyed listening to Neal Zetter. He was really funny and was great at performing his poems. He made us all enthusiastic about poetry. My favourite poem was Banana-nana-nana-nana. I always like meeting authors.”

One pupil commented to Neal: “I just didn’t know that poetry could be like that. I really want to write more poems now.” Neal said he could not ask for a better comment after one of his sessions!

Neal Zetter added: “I was very impressed with the children’s knowledge of my work and, moreover, their enthusiasm for poetry, reading and books. As an author who has worked with children nearly every school day for the last 16 years, I know a good school when I see one!”

Jon Biddle, English Lead at Moorlands said: “Inviting authors, poets and illustrators in to work with our pupils is essential to the work we’re doing at Moorlands Academy to develop a love of reading. Over the past week, we’ve had the poet Neal Zetter working with Y3/4, the author Sharna Jackson working with Y5/6 and the illustrator Liz Million working with the younger years. A successful visit can do so much to engage and inspire readers and we feel very fortunate that we are able to enrich our curriculum in this way.”

Oliver Burwood, CEO of Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust (DNEAT) said: “Moorlands continues to excel in its rounded programme of activities for children and giving them opportunities to work and learn from exceptional and talented authors.”