I do a lot of work in primary and secondary schools throughout the UK and abroad (including schools in Jakarta, Stuttgart, Budapest and Eire). I am unusual in that I write across the age-ranges and on all kinds of subjects from fairies to football, so I can work with children at any stage in their school life, from nursery to GCSE. My sessions are usually a mixture of a talk about reading and writing, readings from my work and question-and answers. I also run writing workshops for children and adults. I have public liability insurance and an up-to-date Enhanced Disclosure, and am a member of NAWE (National Association of Writers in Education).

My main focus is on writing from real life experiences and interests – whatever the genre explored - and I believe passionately in the importance of writing as self-expression. In recent years I’ve created jungle stories with reception children, garden poems with Years 1 and 2, modern fairy-tales with a mixed age group, tales in different genres, and lots more. I’ve developed a Jibber Jabber Storyteller writing exercise, based on the popular “chatterbox” or “fortune teller” origami device,  that has a range of applications and has proved very successful. I’m very flexible about the projects I undertake. I’m not a teacher. I try to help and enthuse children in their writing through sharing with them some of the strategies and techniques that I use in my own writing. 

Over the past few years I have gained a particular reputation, I suppose, as a motivator of reluctant boy readers and writers and I do like working with boys - but my stories have plenty of elements that appeal to girls too and I am equally happy working in a mixed environment. The most important thing, it seems to me, with any writing project is that it should be fun and inspirational for everyone involved. 

I charge £300 a day plus expenses (travel mainly – I live in south west London). Starting at 9.30, I am willing to do as many sessions as can be fitted into the day’s timetable. Writing workshops require at least an hour, and, for Year 5 plus, an hour and a half. I am happy to work for a single day or a whole week or over a number of phased visits. Basically, I’m open to any suggestion!

Click Here to Read the Feedback I Have Received from Some of the Sessions I Have been Involved In

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School Visit

Mum, we had an orphan visiting us at school today.
An orphan?
Yes, mum, you know a man that writes books.
Oh, an author. That sounds nice.
Yes it was. But James Smith was silly and pinched Jasmine
on the bottom and I had to tell Miss Harris.
What did Miss Harris say?
She said, “Not now, Naomi, you’re interrupting the story.”
“Sorry,” I said. Everyone was looking at me.
“May I continue now?” said the orphan.
“Yes, of course,” I said. “Please do.”
What was the story about?
It was about Noah’s shark.
I didn’t know that Noah had a shark.
Yeah, he did. He only had one though, cause this shark ate the other one.
And then it ate the dodos too.
And now they stink.
They stink?
Yeah, there aren’t any more dodos left.
Ah, they’re extinct.
Yeah they are. And then Thomas was sick on the floor.
Right in front of the orphan. It was disgusting.
What did the author say?
He said that that was the first time anyone had reacted like that
To one of his stories.
And Phillip said, “I can see bits of carrot and sweetcorn.”
And Miss Harris said, “I don’t think
We want to hear that, Phillip.”
And then she put some sand on the sick.
And then the orphan said, “Does anyone want to ask me any questions?”
And, mum, I was the first one to put my hand up.
Well done, Naomi. What did you ask?
I said, “May I be excused please?”