“We see children’s development, because we keep their very first Helicopter Story all the way through to Year Two. For some children, that’s four years. It’s magic to see them. At the end of Year Two, we give them their whole pack of stories. It’s a wow moment. They take ownership and look back at their first story… Then they look at their latest story, and it’s their proudest moment.“
Maria Burns, John Hampden School
The Need:
At John Hampden school, fostering a love of storytelling and poetry, and ensuring a smooth, confident transition for their children is key. Although they had been using Helicopter Stories and The Poetry Basket for a long time with positive results, the school wanted to deepen the impact of these programmes. They aimed to create an integrated approach that would not only enhance transitions but also enrich the children’s learning across the curriculum right up until the end of Year 2.
What They Did:
The school started to encourage feeder preschools to jot down a story that their children have told, creating a baseline of what each child can do. They included Helicopter Stories as an option on their transition form, inspiring other preschools to adopt the approach. They also ensured that all new children learn the Poetry Basket poem Chop Chop before transitioning. On the very first day children enter the school, they are welcomed with a story, and together, they recite the poem Chop Chop, creating an immediate sense of belonging and unity.
Additionally, the school keeps every Helicopter Story a child tells throughout their time in foundation stage and KS1, right up until Year Two. At the end of Year Two, children receive a collection of all their stories, which they proudly reflect on, noting the growth in their language and creativity.
The Results:
Integrating Helicopter Stories and Poetry Basket has had a profound impact on the children’s development. The experience of sharing a poem during transition helps children feel part of a community from day one. By Year Two, children are confident storytellers who embrace language and creativity, using adjectives and metaphors that were once beyond them.
