Careers Week and World Book Week started with some very special visitors joining the students at the School Site this week.

Not only did we have children’s authors and illustrators, Julie Alison McDonald and Anna Emilia from Cogmaze Publishing join us to run a story writing workshop, we also welcomed some of the characters of their books, Hedgy, Binkie and Hattie and friends!

Julie and Anna ran a fantastic interactive workshop to show us all how we could come up with ideas for characters, story plots as well as create and write a story about them. They also launched a competition to write a short story which lots of students chose to take part in.

Students also heard how Julie and Anna created their own characters and stories based on some of their experiences, pets and friends and they encouraged everyone to have a go at creating a story and draw a
character to feature in a story. 

Julie and Anna’s books feature diverse character and storylines that celebrate neurodiversity and other differences, encouraging children to embrace their unique traits. Their books offer valuable insights into different ways of thinking, feeling, communicating and behaving, helping children to understand themselves and others better.

The Friends of Woodlands Meed have recently donated the funds for the School and College to buy a collection of Julie and Anna’s books to be enjoyed by the students at the School and College. Julie and Anna also are launching their newest book ‘Oscar finds the treasure’ at Waterstones in Horsham on 15th April  https://www.waterstones.com/events/oscar-finds-the-treasure-booklaunch/horsham

Find out more at www.cogmaze.com