Young Devon poets perform their work

Children from five Devon primary schools have enjoyed the chance to write and deliver live performances of their poetry. 

The youngsters have been working with prize-winning children’s poet James Carter in a week-long project rolled out by the Somerset Literacy Network (SLN).  

James worked with the children from Axminster Primary School, Ilfracombe First School, Feniton Primary School, Honiton Primary School and Wynstream Primary School in Exeter across a week of workshops. Each school’s final work was performed in their local library or school hall in front of delighted parents and carers. 

SLN is managed by Libraries Unlimited. The charity, which runs the 54 libraries across Devon and Torbay, staged the workshops and performances using funding from Arts Council England which was awarded in 2023 specifically to roll out arts and creativity projects across the county.  

James is a National Poetry Day Amabassador and has written fifty children’s books including Zim Zam Zoom – Zappy Poems to Read Out Loud, The Beasts Beneath Our Feet and A Ticket to Kalamzoo! He works with primary schools all over the UK and abroad to encourage a love of reading and language amongst children.  

James Carter said: “The children really did their schools proud by writing such excellent poems and they clearly enjoyed reading them out to parents/carers at the end of each day. What's more it was great to take the children out of school and into the libraries in Axminster, Ilfracombe and Honiton. What was unique and very special about this week was to bring children, poetry and creativity into libraries, and to see children/families loving this experience. My own mission statement as a poet is to show adults how immediate and accessible poetry is, how much children love it, and that words do not only belong in the school environment/curriculum, but in the community as a whole.” 

SLN Manager Dora Allen said: “It’s been a wonderful week watching the children grow in confidence in their skills with language and their love of reading and writing. James makes everything fantastic fun for them, and the audience at the performances were delighted.” 

The Somerset Literacy Network was established in 2010 to give member schools access high quality English support and resources. In 2023 Libraries Unlimited took over and rebranded the network at the Schools Literacy Network (SLN). Over 350 schools across the South West and beyond enjoy workshops, online support and consultancy aimed at improving primary school children’s love of reading and books.