Anti-Bullying Week takes place on 11th November to 15th November this year, and 2019’s theme is ‘change starts with us’. At West End in Schools we have been running Anti-bullying drama workshops for the past two years, but we are constantly developing and improving the workshops based on feedback from teachers. 

Last week, as schools were launching a new academic year, West End in Schools were embarking on our own kind of journey. Our mission: travel the world in 80 days. In a 55 minute musical. In a show that can fit into a school hall.

Specifically, we were back in the rehearsal room putting together our brand new musical Around the World in 80 Days, based on the classic adventure novel by Jules Verne.

The new school year is upon us! And we are excited about what this year holds.

From the dancing our way through Roald Dahl Day to taking pause to reflect with poetry on Armistice Day - there’s plenty to get involved with.

This summer we have been introducing all the books featuring in our World Book Day 2020 Story Explorer workshops. We wanted to share with you why we love these books as well as five of our favourite classroom activities to accompany them. This week is our last (but by no means least!) book in the list by author, comedian and TV personality David Walliams.

In this blog series we have been looking at classroom activities that compliment our Story Explorer World Book Day 2020 selection. So far we have looked at The Rainbow Fish, The Tiny Seed, Stick Man, Fantastic Mr Fox, Matilda and Fortunately, the Milk. This week we are focusing on a classic tale that follows three brave children on their childhood adventures!

It may be the middle of the summer holidays, but our minds are on World Book Day (7 months and counting…). If you’re short of something to read this summer, head to our World Book Day 2020 book list for inspiration. Other the summer term we have been sharing some of our favourite activities to go alongside our Story Explorer book selection. We are sure that our book in focus this week will make you laugh out loud no matter what your age…

Earlier this term we shared our book choices for World Book Day 2020. The power of a good book selection is something the protagonist of this week’s focus story understands! Our previous blog explored Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox, and this week we are looking at another Dahl classic…

In this blog series we have been working our way through the books in our World Book Day 2020 selection for our Story Explorer drama workshops. We have so far looked at activities based on Stick Man, The Tiny Seed and Rainbow Fish. Next up is the first of two Roald Dahl books on the list.

This week some post arrived that had the whole office smiling from ear to ear! We were lucky enough to receive an envelope from Four Marks Church of England Primary School stuffed with hand written letters from their Year 5 and 6 children, responding to our workshops with them earlier this term.

Roald Dahl Day isn’t just a time to celebrate a great author. It is a day to celebrate everything Dahl’s stories teach: creativity, perseverance and fun!

Welcome to the third in our blog series introducing our Story Explorer World Book Day 2020 selection! So far we’ve talked about ideas for The Rainbow Fish and The Tiny Seed. This week it’s the turn of another renowned children’s author Julia Donaldson and her much loved book Stick Man!

How useful is your PPA time?

For teachers, it’s a much-needed chance to step out of the classroom and to get on with planning and marking. But what about the children? How useful is it for them?

Last month we announced our World Book Day 2020 selection. And this is the second in a series of blogs looking at how to utilise these books in the classroom (if you missed our first one on ‘The Rainbow Fish’ you can find it here).

This week we are taking a look at The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle, one of the wonderful options for our Story Explorer drama workshops.

If we want children to grow up to believe they can do anything and that they are not confined to certain activities which fit within gendered stereotypes, then we need to start changing how we talk about subjects like dance. Instead of worrying about the preconceptions of dance, let's take a look at some of the incredible benefits participating in dance can have for young boys.

Last week we announced our World Book Day 2020 selection for both our Bringing Books to Life dance workshops and our Story Explorer drama workshops. This is the first in a series of blogs taking a look at our selected books, what makes them so wonderful, and what activities you can do to explore the book in your classroom. First up we have The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister

Each year we choose a special selection of books to focus on in dance and drama workshops during the World Book Day period, including one or two completely new workshop options. (This also means we get to spend some quality time in bookshops, which is an added bonus!)

We’re delighted to announce that our 2020 World Book Day choices are…

This year we have developed a series of complimentary CPD sessions for primary school teachers. Each workshop guides teachers through a series of tools and techniques they can apply in their own classrooms. Throughout the sessions we invite teachers to ask questions, to share their practise and experience. There are a few common questions that teachers ask about running their own performing arts lessons in their class.

How can we teach climate change to children in a way that feels productive, and not terrifying? Back in March our Creative Director Abi began working with a group of primary school teachers, environment experts and some of our most experienced drama facilitators to answer this exact question…

You’ve made it! Welcome to the final term of this academic year - we are that bit closer to the summer.
It may be the last term, but it is by no means least. There are plenty of upcoming events and occasions to celebrate. And we have put together a timeline of what there is to look forward to this term, as well as some suggestions on how to get involved!

“A smile is the universal language of kindness” - William Arthur Ward

A smile is our body’s way to communicate joy without language, much like a wave to say hello or a shake of the head to mean no thank you.

Without even thinking about it we are capable of communicating with so many people without uttering a single word.