Children’s author Dave Cousinshas teamed up with the National Literacy Trust and ALCS to bring his exciting Crime Writing Tour to Chiseldon Primary School in Swindon, as he makes his way across the country.
Dave Cousins, author and illustrator (15 Days Without A Head,Charlie Merrick’s Misfits), gave Year Five students an insight into the world of creative crime writing by helping them plan a fictional robbery!
Dave took pupils through a series of fun and creative activities that gave them a flavour of what it is like to develop and write a story – from lively discussions about what the pupils wanted to steal and why, to pupils ‘casing the joint’ and drawing plans of how they were going to pull-off the robbery. With ideas and enthusiasm overflowing, Dave then helped pupils get their stories down on paper.
Dave’s Crime Writing Tour celebrates the Ruth Rendell Award 2019. The Award was launched in 2016 by the National Literacy Trust and the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) in honour of crime writer Ruth Rendell, and is given to the author or writer who has made the biggest difference to literacy in the UK in the past year. The winner will be announced at an awards event held by ALCS on 3 December 2019.
Over the course of two weeks, Dave will be taking his Crime Writing Tour around the country, visiting primary schools in National Literacy Trust Hub areas. Dave’s visit to Chiseldon Primary School was supported bySwindon Stories, a campaign led by the National Literacy Trust in partnership with Swindon Borough Council and supported by WHSmith. It encourages the whole town to make reading, writing and talking a priority, with a range of projects and National Literacy Trust programmes to promote reading for pleasure, employability skills and early language use.
Author Dave Cousins said:“I had a fantastic time meeting Year Five at ChiseldonPrimary School. Thanks to all the staff and pupils for making me so welcome, and for the excellent effort everyone put into their writing – and robbery plans! The group was really engaged and I was impressed and inspired by some of the great ideas they had. I think Ruth would’ve been impressed too!”
Rachel King, Year Five Teacher said: “We’d like to thank Dave for coming in to work with our pupils, it’s been a great way to explore the genre of crime writing with them. The class particularly enjoyed planning their own robberies. The children were fantastically engaged in the process and have produced detailed plans around casing the joint!”
Anish Harrison Swindon Stories Manager, said:“When children get to meet writing role models, it can have a hugely positive impact on their enjoyment of writing, their writing skills, and how they view writing as a career choice. Dave certainly brought the writing process to life and inspired pupils to develop some truly exciting and gripping crime stories. The day perfectly captured the spirit of the Ruth Rendell Award, by celebrating the fantastic work that authors and writers are doing across the nation to boost children’s literacy.”
For more information on the Ruth Rendell Award visit: literacytrust.org/ruth-rendell-award
For more information about Swindon Stories visit:swindonstories.org.uk
For more information on Dave Cousins visit: www.davecousins.net
