A GROUP of Oakley Vale schoolchildren were immersed into different worlds in a Barratt Homes show home at Lyveden Fields, whilst participating in a captivating storytelling session.
The 30 children were invited to the five star homebuilder’s development in honour of National Storytelling Week.
The awareness week’s mission aims to promote the tradition of oral storytelling, which was a historical way of communicating life experiences and creative imagination.
Oral storytelling is still popular and offers an enthralling experience where stories are brought to life and for young schoolchildren, it is an exciting way to encourage them to participate in famous and ancient literature.
Alison Raine, Sales Director at Barratt Northampton, said: “We were delighted to invite the Oakley Vale schoolchildren to our show home, to celebrate National Storytelling Week.
“The children were thoroughly engaged in all of the stories and our storyteller Richard, did a fantastic job!”
The leading developer welcomed Richard York, a traditional storyteller from Northampton, to tell tales to the Oakley Vale pupils.
Whilst Richard interested the students with his medieval stories, they were also blown away by his incorporation of musical instruments into his fanciful narratives, providing a new way to enjoy the thrilling plots.
Speaking of the experience, Richard said: “Oral storytelling, whilst it can be enjoyed by all ages, is beneficial for school children as it helps develop language and listening skills.
“Through sharing the stories from many cultures, we create a safe exploration of experiences where children can observe the wisdom buried into the tales.
“I’m incredibly grateful to Barratt Homes for providing both the school and me with this fantastic opportunity, where it was a pleasure to work with the teachers and the pupils, who were wonderfully engaged throughout!”
The sessions ran for 45 minutes and explored many different tales, including a medieval Irish story called King Leoghaire’s Ears and another imaginative narrative called Sweetest and Sourest.
Jayden, a pupil from Oakley Vale Primary School, said: “I enjoyed the afternoon because we got to hear lots of different stories and the man was friendly, so it made us all want to listen.”
Katie Mason, Vice Principal at Oakley Vale Primary School, said: “We would like to say a big thank you to Barratt Homes and Richard, as the year two children thoroughly enjoyed having a story told to them during National Storytelling Week.
“It was an exciting afternoon and an experience that will stay in their minds forever.
“Telling stories to children of all ages is incredibly powerful and why it was so special to have celebrated the awareness week in this way.”