Gavin Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire, will be celebrating National Storytelling Week at St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School, in Brewood, on February 7th.
In honour of the occasion, Gavin will be reading his favourite childhood story to pupils at the school, which is holding a series of book-themed events throughout the week.
The school will be organising visits to the local library, hosting a ‘Design a Book Cover’ competition and holding a ‘Reading Challenge’. Students will be encouraged to study a variety of different authors, with older children also writing books/stories for the younger pupils to read.
Gavin said: “National Storytelling Week is an excellent reminder of the importance of books, not only to our education system but also to our culture as a whole. Books play a hugely important role in developing children’s ideas about the world, stimulating both their curiosity and their imagination.
“It is important that we do everything that we can to instil a love of reading in this new generation and so ensure they do not miss out on the excitement and joy that this magical universe has to offer.”
Headteacher Bernadette Corbett added: “We are really looking forward to welcoming Mr Williamson to school to read his favourite childhood story with our children and would like to thank him for sharing his valuable time with us. Celebrating National Storytelling week is a great opportunity to encourage the children’s love of books and to show them how much fun reading can be.
“It is also a fantastic opportunity to involve our local community by inviting other guests, along with Mr Williamson as our local MP, to read to our children. We very much look forward to children, staff and the wider community coming together to celebrate both the enjoyment of reading and also our recent success as the top performing primary school in Staffordshire, ranking within the top 100 schools nationally.”
A series of School Governors, the Parish Priest (Fr Paul) and several parishioners have also been invited to read to the children during the course of the morning.