“You’re sending something home for the children to do that they are already the experts in.“
Faye Rogers, St Paul’s Primary School
The Need:
Faye Rogers knew that strong home-school connections could have a powerful impact on children’s self-esteem and achievements. But she was also aware that for some families, school can feel like a daunting place. She wanted to find an approach that would be fun, accessible, and non-threatening, something that would invite parents into their children’s learning in a joyful way.
At St Paul’s, Helicopter Stories has been part of the Reception ethos since 2017. Faye was keen to see if the approach could travel beyond the classroom and take root in family homes.
What They Did:
Using the Helicopter Stories at Home online programme, Faye planned and delivered a session for parents. The lesson plans, videos, and printable resources gave her everything she needed to support families in learning how to scribe and act out stories in their own front rooms.
After the introductory session, parents were encouraged to send in any stories they scribed at home. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with families excited to try out Helicopter Stories and share the results.
The Results:
Parents began uploading videos to Tapestry of themselves scribing and acting out their children’s stories at home. The children loved bringing these stories back into class, sharing them proudly with their friends.
Faye reflects, “You’re sending something home for the children to do that they are already the experts in. It gives families a way to connect with their children’s learning that feels natural and fun.”
This simple step strengthened relationships between home and school, building a sense of shared joy and partnership in every child’s storytelling journey.
