“P is for Poetry” is Naomi’s programme which teaches children about the power of words and expression through poetry. Working alongside each school’s curriculum, values and ethos, she encourages all pupils to engage with words and express ideas confidently, whilst empowering them to develop their emotional resilience and wellbeing.

In preparation for their assemblies, Naomi’s pupils use gesture and movement, intonation and articulation to communicate the world of the poem and its meaning. Children relish this expressive way of engaging with poetry, and during their classes Naomi encourages them to be bold with their ideas and build confidence as they work together.

Using her understanding of stagecraft techniques, Naomi encourages the participants in her poetry lessons to share their ideas and thoughts with each other. Through discussion, questioning and listening, turn-taking and rehearsing together, pupils begin to develop confidence in their oracy skills, from raising a hand in class to performing an entire poem from memory.

In response to growing concerns within schools about children’s mental health, Naomi has created “Poetry for Wellbeing” workshops. These workshops introduce a range of emotion-themed poetry in a supportive and caring environment to create a sense of belonging and self-worth for all children, empowering them to reflect on positive experiences and navigate their feelings.

Naomi’s programme introduces poetry to all year groups, from Nursery to Year 6, ensuring a whole-school impact. Either through a series of lessons or in standalone workshops, pupils explore a range of poems associated with a particular topic or theme. Naomi creates an inclusive programme that brings together oracy skills, poetry expression and drama techniques, enriching each school’s curriculum.

When Naomi brings her poetry programme into a school, she is involved at every stage – from initial meetings with senior leadership teams to discus what they hope to achieve with poetry, through to her facilitation in the classroom, and culminating in celebratory performance assemblies. Naomi prides herself on the collaborative approach she brings to each school she works with.

From her first poetry class or workshop, Naomi brings her enthusiasm, energy and ‘box of tricks’! Her initial activities enable her to quickly assess each class’s particular needs, whether they relate to learning, accessibility or behaviour. Using this insight she adapts her teaching methods to allow pupils to engage deeply with language, express their ideas confidently, and find their unique voices.

The culmination of “P is for Poetry” is a school assembly. Here pupils proudly recite their class poem from memory, demonstrating oracy skills and performing the actions they have learnt together. Eager families who have heard their children practise their class poem are invited, and are able to applaud the confidence, joy and proficiency they see on stage.

Naomi prepares pupils to participate in Verse examinations offered by the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). Her pupils are entered at either Introductory or Graded levels, giving either a Solo or Group presentation. Naomi selects pupils from a wide range of backgrounds who have shown an aptitude for poetry but need encouragement with their confidence, collaborative working or speaking skills.

Each year the number of children of primary school age participating in Naomi’s LAMDA programme has increased substantially as schools recognise and celebrate the huge impact of her work. Naomi is very proud of her pupils, who have achieved a pass rate of 100%, with 92% gaining a Distinction and the rest a Merit.

Naomi’s many years of experience as a theatremaker and her passion for providing opportunities for children to perform have encouraged her to establish her own LAMDA private centres within London. In her role as Head of Centre she ensures students are given the best possible learning environment to achieve success in their exams.

Naomi also provides one to one tuition for children whose families would like them to participate in the LAMDA exams. After an initial meeting between all, she advises the family on the appropriate level of examination for the prospective learner. Her tutoring can either be in person or online, depending on the needs of the pupil and their location.

As a drama education specialist, Naomi is able to provide an alternative approach to teaching poetry in schools. She can provide further training (INSET) to develop teachers’ confidence in including poetry throughout the curriculum, or use her techniques during interventions. Naomi also facilitates wellness twilight sessions to support staff mental health and wellbeing, and to enhance working relationships.

Teachers sometimes say they lack confidence with poetry, and would value opportunities to develop their pedagogy. As a specialist teacher, Naomi can demonstrate a clear model for staff to incorporate poetry in lessons, so that it feels more integrated with the rest of the curriculum. Her drama based teaching style encourages teachers to embrace their own creativity whilst they are teaching.

Senior leaders in education have invited Naomi to host wellbeing workshops that place the mental health of their team centre stage. Using her ‘ice breaker’ drama games and her ‘poems to share’, Naomi creates a fun and relaxed setting where teachers and support staff are encouraged to focus on their own physical, mental and emotional health.

Naomi’s online resources continue to provide valuable extra opportunities for children to engage with poetry in their own time and with their families. There is a huge range of poetry activities to join in with, including ‘poems to listen to’, ‘poems to perform with Ms Naomi’ and stand-alone lessons, each one focussing specifically on either Early Years or Key Stage 1 or 2.