One thing that has proven to be highly effective in enhancing engagement and encouraging participation in lessons and whole-school assemblies is professional storytelling. But there is a problem…

There are not masses of professional storytellers and they are always in high demand due to the many benefits that professional storytelling offers (improved memory, improved concentration, greater skills in communication, etc.). So they often aren’t available for visits at the time required by the school.

Which is why we now offer Storytelling at a Distance – a solution that increases the availability of professional storytellers for times when schools need them the most.

So what is Storytelling at a Distance?

Our work with the Oxford Reading Tree proved that children can engage with recorded storytelling performances. However, these online videos can only ever be one-way and, of course, are limited in their range.

Which is why Storytelling at a Distance has been designed in a slightly different way, using skype-style communication to achieve higher levels of interaction and thus enhanced engagement and participation from pupils with the story and topic area.

You are effectively inviting a professional storyteller into the classroom or assembly hall via electronic means, which also has the additional benefit of no travel costs.

Of course, for this to work the storytellers do not only have to be highly trained in a specialised form of storytelling (i.e. telling stories via camera), but they also need to be fairly technical to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Therefore, we have handpicked two storytellers who are highly competent to undertake Storytelling at a Distance – Chip and Amy!

The Oxford Reading Tree’s Chip and Amy will interact with your children and the chosen story, joining in actions, providing sound effects, and even responding to the storyteller’s questions. You’ll be your storyteller’s eyes, hands, and ears, and an easy-to-follow set of instructions will be sent to you well in advance of your storytelling session.

Storytelling at a Distance costs only £50 for up to 45 minutes with a class or year group, or £90 for a whole-school assembly, making it a highly cost-effective option.

For more information about our Storytelling at a Distance, including available dates and costs, please visit our website. Alternatively, you can call us on 020 328 6245 or email us at stories@snailtales.org.