Alan Durant

 On Wednesday St Joseph’s was visited by Alan Durant, author of over ninety books including Football Fever, Dear Tooth-Fairy and Billy Monster's Daymare.

Alan led a whole-school assembly and ran workshops with Years 1 and 2. During the day the children heard poetry about custard, why monsters are scared of children and how being small is a superpower. They wrote stories and songs about pirates, pterodactyls, sweets and unicorns. Every class that worked together on a story had some absolutely amazing ideas that took everyone by surprise.

Alan also taught us all what it means to be an author. When he was younger he thought you’d need a long, grey beard and a giant brain. You don’t! You just need to love reading, and to write about something that you care about.

It was a fantastic day and all the children and staff who saw Alan in action had a brilliant time! Thank you Alan!

These are just a few of Alan Durant's fantastic books!

The End of the Book Fair!

Thank you everyone for another hugely successful book fair!

So many children and adults visited the fair to explore and to choose their books.


Even with golden tickets, prize vouchers and World Book Day vouchers we still raised more than £1,100 in books for the school!

Book week is over but its events are still running! Just last week Years 3 and 4 got to meet author Cressida Cowell and this week an author is visiting us!

Alan Durant will be in school on Wednesday, working particularly with Years 1 and 2 and will be signing books after school.

Thank you to everyone who has helped turn a great Book Week into a fantastic Book Month!

Next half-term is going to be really exciting as we really focus on reading at St. Joseph’s!

The 5^th of March is World Book Day. All the children and even some of the staff will be welcome to dress up as one of their favourite book characters! Every child will also get a free £1 book voucher.

You can use that voucher right away as the book fair starts on the 6^th of March! Just like last term it will run before and after school each day until it ends on the 11^th. Please do come along. Remember – buying books from the book fair earns free books for the school. The last fair was truly record breaking with over £1300 raised!

Lastly, we are privileged to have author Alan Durant visiting the school on the 18^th of March. Mr Durant is not just a great writer but really loves to help children get to grips with their own writing. Have a look at some of his books; it’s sure to be a great day!