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Test Neil’s talent
Famous Storysacks inventor plans story telling tour of the town
Author Neil Griffiths believes that stories are for anyone, anytime, anywhere and is challenging people to think of the most interesting venue
for him to tell one.
Neil, who invented Storysacks, headteacher for 13 years, Story- from Westlea Primary
now a world renowed literacy de- sacks are now used in eighty coun- School will also be perform-
velopment programme, will try to tries around the globe in an ex- ing.
tell tales in as many different places traordinary variety of settings Neil, who is still based in
as possible on Friday 29 June: the which he never conceived of: from Swindon where he runs his
more unusual the better. early years education, to convey- educational company Cor-
This event, for story lovers of ing eco-messages, in prisons and ner to Learn, said, “this is a
any age, will round off a fortnight in conflict resolution. chance to celebrate how far
of celebrations marking the tenth Guests from all over the Britain Storysacks have gone all
anniversary of Storysacks. will attend a Storysacks birthday over the world and to thank
Since they were first lovingly party on 19 June, including some all the people who helped
handmade by parents at Westlea of those Westlea parents who put promote them.”
Primary School, where Neil was together the first sacks. Children Neil is looking forward to
spending a fortnight doing
what he loves most. From 18
June, he will be telling sto-
Don’t let your ries to invited groups of
conservatory school children all over the town - Listen to a story from Neil at:
from Coate Water and the Swin-
• Borders, North Swindon Centre
become a don and Cricklade Railway, to Saturday 23 June, 10am to
11.30am.
Swindon Town football ground, a
greenhouse supermarket and a cemetery. • Lydiard Park on Friday 29 June,
11am. Meet outside the house
If you would like to suggest a
Solar control window story venue for 29 June, call Jenny at 10.45am to walk to the lake
Rainbow on 421168 before 11 June. or garden, or inside if raining
film could filter out most
of those searing sunrays Swindon education impacts
on Belarus director
Call 01793 873610
for a professionally A visit to several schools in West and North Swindon has greatly
impressed a regional director of education from Belarus.
installed solution The tour for Alaina Kletchkov- Gin McGiffin of CCLL said Mrs
skaya, organised by the Swindon Kletchkovskaya was astonished to
branch of Chernobyl Children’s visit Brimble Hill Special School.
Lifeline, took in Toothill’s Oliver “Alaina could not believe the teach-
Tomkins Junior School, Peatmoor ing resources and fantastic facili-
and Bridlewood primaries and ties directed at children with learn-
Brimble Hill Special School on the ing difficulties and disabilities, and
Learning Campus. the fact that the children return to
She said, through a translator, their families every day. Unfortu-
“I have only heard of Swindon nately in Belarus, children with
through the children who have disabilities and severe educational
come here with Chernobyl Chil- needs are usually shut away in
dren’s Lifeline and I am very institutions and get a very raw deal.
pleased to see for myself. The “Alaina was amazed at the en-
schools are very impressive and I thusiasm and love for his children
will be telling my colleagues and from Brimble Hill’s headteacher
school directors of the different Bob Walker. It’s such a contrast
methods used here.” from Belarus.”
Ms Kletchkovskaya with Bridlewood Primary School children and headteacher Jane
Rodbourn, left, Gin McGiffin of CCL and Christine Watts, CCL schools liaison officer
in front of a display of children from Belarus who visited in February

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21 June 07 42 18/5/07, 2:49 pm