22nd Sept - Abbott Community Primary School

If you spend as long as I have on-the-road you don't make quick assumptions about schools. I've often been disappointed by the cosiest of leafy suburb schools but more frequently I am blown away by the success of schools in less salubrious areas, who are contending with issues that teachers in more privileged schools merely have nightmares about. Today was one of those days - it took no more than five minutes for me to realise that my day in Abbott Primary School, in Collyhurst, Manchester, was going to be a pure delight...

I'd been invited in by the deputy, Mel Crosbie. As we fine tuned the day, over tea in the staff room, I got my first sense of genuine affection the staff have for the school and its pupils. Her enthusiasm was mirrored in each member of staff I met and their collective commitment was reflected in the strong work ethic of the children and the obvious pride they have for their school.

Staff rooms are excellent barometers of a school's well being - I've heard many a teacher bad-mouth children in the privacy of their sanctuary; although they'd never do it within the child's earshot, it's indicative of a pretence that children are likely to see through. But the teachers at this school seemed to only share positive comments about their children - it was obvious why they were held in such high esteem by their pupils...

Although I enjoyed every minute of my day (especially meeting the amazing Georgia who had broken BOTH arms and, I learnt, managed to lose a banana down one of the plaster casts...). It's my time in year 6 that's going to stay in my mind... For it was there that the brazen Britney came out with the priceless observation "Hey, when you take your glasses off you look just like our milkman..." and it was also here that I witnessed the result of some truly inspired teaching. I'd already heard Gill Rowland enthuse about the way her class had thrown themselves into their work on Romeo and Juliette and how Shakespearean quotes had become common currency, so I was keen to see it first hand. The children duly obliged...

They were brilliant...

"Love goes toward love, as schoolboys from their books,

But love from love, toward school with heavy looks."

Kingsway Infants Library

Wisely, this lovely school in Watford did not allow me into their library with a hot beverage in hand. Although, as I was cutting my second ceremonial ribbon in two days, I did note that the carpet was a practical dark colour - I could have poured a full teapot onto it and no one would have noticed...

To mark the opening of the library the school held a poetry competition - here's the winning entry. If you can't see it clearly it reads -

"I like books because they are good,

Not because I'm told I should,

I like pictures and words and stories too,

Can I read my book to you?"

Well done Sarah!

Making My Mark in the Whitley Park Library

What better way to start the first of over a hundred school visits this year than with a library opening? The alarming trend of converting primary school libraries into ICT suites has well and truly come to an end and more and more schools seem to be focusing on revamping their libraries - which can only be a good thing. A revamped library usually requires a wad of cash and the dedication of a team of willing wall painters and book sorters - in this case it was led by Vickie Mullan, the literacy coordinator and the teacher who invited me in. As in all welcoming schools I had been offered a cup of tea and was sipping it when Vickie asked if I'd like a quick sneak preview of the room I was going to officially open. Fungus the Bogeyman and Burglar Bill looked down us as I heard how the once painfully pink walls had been slowly replaced during the summer holidays. I drifted into the cosy beaned-bagged corner of the room with the pristine new rug adorned with reading penguins and sipped my tea. Remember, only a select few people had been into this room - the windows were blacked out to prevent young prying eyes seeing their new facility - I was a privileged, honoured guest. Alas this honoured guest is not known for his steadiness of hand (I haven't earned the nickname of Mr Magoo, a home, for nothing...) and a dreadful drop of tea feel onto the rug. Happily, Vickie hadn't noticed (although it landed on the whiter-than-white snow, so it was only a matter of time...). I knew I'd have to confess (although if it had landed on a darker part, I probably would have remained mum...). By the opening ceremony I was consumed with guilt... I duly cut the ribbon, made my books-are-far-more-powerful-than-TV programmes speech and gathered the assembled crowd onto the penguin rug... "Let me tell you a story," I said, "about a gleaming new rug and a clumsy author..."

The thing is, I'm in a school in Watford tomorrow - opening another library...

It just dropped out of the sky...

So - there I was, in the garden, laptop ready, about to begin this blog. Well, it's the beginning of September and, even though schools aren't really back yet, and my first author visit is a couple of weeks away, I felt obliged to write something... But what? I'm an author, right? I shouldn't have any problems thinking about what to write... ideas are my stock in trade. So I did what authors normally do when they are waiting for "the muse" - put the kettle on....

So - there I was, in the garden, laptop ready, tea in hand, about to... then thud. Something had crashed into the shed...

...a pigeon. Clearly a rather stunned bird, it's neck was at a peculiar angle and, apart from its blinking eyes, it was motionless... I had a choice of three things, contact the RSPCA, take a quick photo of it or write about it. I decided to do all three (in that order...).

By the time you're reading this I'm assuming the bird has made a complete recovery and is this very moment up a column pestering Nelson with a gang of its mates (well, let's hope so anyway...). I'm certainly seeing this as a good sign - this year ideas are going to just fall down from the sky... Only next time I hope they get their timing right: by the time the pigeon had been dispatched to the local vet my tea had grown cold...

As I sip my replacement cuppa my thoughts go out to all you teachers who are gearing up for a new term... Here's to rolls of brand new backing paper, piles of unsullied text books and uncannily bug-free computers. I just hope, as you put the finishing touches to those tray name-labels, that the silence of your room is not disturbed by a sudden thud against your window... (Although if it is - you'll certainly have something to tell the kids tomorrow!)