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Today is National Poetry Day, and at Littlegarth we have been celebrating by giving our children the stage. In our assembly, pupils read aloud poems they have written themselves and poems that inspired them – a wonderful opportunity to celebrate creativity, confidence and the power of language.
Poetry has an important place in primary education and is often neglected. At Littlegarth however it thrives. Poetry encourages children to play with words, experiment with ideas and think carefully about vocabulary, rhythm, imagery and meaning. Every word matters in a poem, and learning to make those choices helps children become more thoughtful and confident writers.
It also develops important reading skills. Poetry asks children to look beneath the surface, make inferences, interpret meaning and explain the effect of a writer’s choices. These skills support reading comprehension throughout their primary years and become increasingly important as children progress towards senior schools and beyond.
At Littlegarth we understand that poetry offers much more than preparation for exams however. Creativity, imagination and the confidence to express an original idea are valuable in every walk of life. Whether our children eventually become writers, scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, artists or pursue careers that do not yet exist, being able to think differently and communicate effectively will matter.
Poetry can also broaden horizons. Through poems, children encounter different experiences, cultures and perspectives, while discovering that their own ideas have value too.
That is perhaps what makes today’s assembly particularly special. Standing in front of others and reading something you have created takes courage. When a child shares their poem, they are saying: I made this. This is my idea. Listen to my voice.
At Littlegarth, we want our children to develop the knowledge and skills to succeed academically, but also the curiosity, creativity and confidence to aim high. Poetry has a valuable part to play in both.
Happy National Poetry Day!
