Testimonials

Storytelling

Your performance really did entertain people, but also got across the message that everyone is a person and that the correct way to treat people is to welcome them and that differences are not threatening at all.
Yvonne Mooney Co-ordinator, Bexley Traveller Education Service

I will pass on your details to others as I thought the show was great and well worth other schools seeing it.
Sally Saunders, Deputy Head, of a Junior school, Sidcup, Kent

Thanks for a really great time. Lots of fun but with a serious message.
Sally Jones, EMA teacher, Ilford, Essex

What a lovely morning my class had. The children really enjoyed the production and had great fun drawing the props during the workshop session.
A really great day. Thanks so much.
My class grasped the concepts as the show was delivered at their level. The children enjoyed using the props through role-play. As a class we discussed the different characters’ feelings. Thanks so much.
The assembly was very ‘child friendly’.
Andrea Hanbury, Helen Cummins, C. Foreman, Clare Tobin, St. Joseph’s First School, Harrow

Our children, including those with EAL, were completely absorbed in your thought-provoking story. I had very interesting follow up discussions with my class, and here are a few comments:
“It should be in a pantomime!” Jarrad, aged 9.
“I want to se it again” Chris, aged 9.
“The books (by Max Velthuijs) look brilliant, and I hope we can have some more in our school.” Lauren, aged 9.
Anna Seaton, Mill View Middle School, Norwich

We all learned a great deal from your performance, as well as having fun.
Cathy Whalen, head teacher, Mousehold Primary, Norwich

The session was great and the children and parents enjoyed it. I particularly liked the way you introduced the characters before you started the story and it’s a nice extra having the apples at the end
Ruth Humphreys, Librarian for Young People, Maidenhead

Thanks for the shows; all the children and staff said how brilliant they were
Head Teacher, Herts

The children really enjoyed the show and did their best artwork ever afterwards
EAL Teacher, Congolese Refugee Project, Norwich

Your African stories day was a welcome release from the restraints of the curriculum
My five year old children were stimulated to draw some large and bold animals, when usually they are small and timid!
An exciting, dynamic and very entertaining day.
First School teachers, Windsor

You were fantastic! I know the children thoroughly enjoyed your story about settling to sleep, and I hope the children at Whitefriars will rest in bed better tonight!
Librarian, Harrow (who organised for Michael to attend a local school)

I agree wholeheartedly with you that learning should be fun! None of us learn anything if we don't see the need to learn - and your themes are so well chosen that they all have relevance and make the learning journey fun, whether we are babies, children, parents or teachers!
Another Librarian, Harrow (after taking part in a 'Baby Bounce'' session with 20 parents and 20 children)

I was amazed to see Craig, who has Autistic Spectrum Disorder, standing up and joining in. A year ago we couldn't get him to go into assembly, let alone join in! Thankyou!
Teacher. Windsor

“I enjoyed the way you added volunteers and didn't do it all yourself.”
“The story was very funny, but had a serious meaning to it. It was seriously funny.”
“When I first came into the hall and looked where I was about to sit (on the school's PE mats, covered in Michael's rugs) I thought,"Wow!". It was so comfy.”
“Are you normally that funny?”
“I loved the bit where you strangled the turkey and it made a choking noise. We don't have turkey toys like that in Luton.”
Year 6 pupils, Bushmead Primary, Luton

Michael sets the scene with magical props and an intimate yet spirited delivery. Our reception children were spellbound by the storytelling and couldn’t wait to draw the puppets – the most motivated I have seen them.
Louise Carter, Deputy Headteacher, Soho Parish Primary School

This was an excellent activity: very well organised and presented. The parents and children all benefitted from Michael's innovative and inclusive way of presenting the fun activities. It was nice to see how the only Dad in the group was made to feel at ease and encouraged to join in.
About Michael's 'Christmas Experience' for parents and very young children at Gill Blowers Nursery, Luton

Perfectly timed, perfect delivery, and perfect for children in our class. Thank you!
Happy Foundation Class Teacher, Maidenhead

An exhilarating and stimulating day, in which Michael showed a real understanding of the needs of our pupils. We shared 90 minutes of absorption, engagement and being on task. This is quite an achievement, bearing in mind that the pupils in our school have severe social, emotional and behavioural issues.
Head Teacher, The Willows School, Hillingdon, London

This was a lively, fun and totally interactive session. A great new way of introducing a book to children with speech and language learning difficulties, and behavioural issues. All of the children remained completely absorbed and involved, and were learning socially and linguistically from the turn-taking, and Michael's skill at commenting and asking key questions. The children were thrilled to be able to follow up Michael's session by playing with his fantastic puppets and the Storysack that Michael kindly left us.
Helen Rees and Lynne Wallington, First Steps Early Years Unit, Hillingdon

I just wanted to let you know that the whole school really enjoyed your visit and it got our BOOKWEEK off to a tremendous start!!
We keep hearing many of your catchphrases reverberating around the playground!!
Tania Silverman, Deputy Head, Aylward First and Middle School, Harrow

I will give you 100%. It was very imaginative (in a good way). We had great fun... didn't we Mummy?
Emma, 7 (and a half) and Mum (age supplied by Emma but witheld for security reasons) from Arborfield, Berkshire, commenting on a story session at the opening of the Helen and Douglas House Charity Shop, Henley-on-Thames.

Thank you again for your wonderful story telling show. Not only did you manage to keep the children entertained and interested in the story, but you did this for at least an hour! My daughter, Amari, has just turned 2yrs and although not very forthcoming initially, soon joined in. You seemed to have a very gentle manner and a voice that attracted the children and they became totally absorbed in the story. Amari told her older brother and sister about the story as best she could, but did manage to remember all the fruit that was in the little girls basket.
Kim Cowans, Mother

Training

What a fantastic morning’s training!
We arrived feeling a bit tired and uninspired. But the session produced a blizzard of wonderful ideas about developing children’s speaking and listening skills- all of which we will use in the future and pretend they are our own!
Ewan Smith, Trainee primary Teacher, Luton

I thoroughly enjoyed your session and sincerely feel that children in Harrow will benefit from seeing one of your shows. You deliver a serious message in a truly fun way.
I was particularly impressed by the perceptiveness of the comments from the young children after they had watched the story.
Please come to our Children’s Centres!
Gill Polding Principal Librarian, Harrow

I thought Michael was quite mad! (But very entertaining and thought provoking!)
Teacher, Harrow

I’d like to introduce these ideas in our storytelling sessions at our Children’s Centre
Librarian, Harrow

“Very entertaining and educational”
“Very enjoyable, and full of entertainment”
“Very enjoyable. You taught us cheap and cheerful ways of having fun!!”
Parents at a ‘Baby Bounce’ session in Harrow

I thought the session was extremely good. The way in which the story was told, the interaction of the presenter with the audience, the way puppets and props were used and the including of every person in the room, was a great way of showing how inclusion can be promoted in schools and showing us, the audience, how it can be done. It was a completely different session than we are used to but it made a refreshing change! I definitely recommend that this stays on the timetable for the year 3 students next year.
Year 3 Student, BA in Teaching and Learning, Leicester

A really interesting, enjoyable and creative vehicle to convey important issues.
Student teacher, Leicester.

“I enjoyed Michael’s session; in fact, today I took an assembly and used many of his ideas. I read a story using props and puppets. I chose volunteers from the audience and gave them words and sounds to make when I gave them a cue. I got the whole audience to repeat the same line when it came up and I got my class to play the opposite part. There was some humour in it and I believe the story’s message was understood by all; in a way that they will not forget. The pupils were totally into it and I received some positive feedback from staff.”
“I enjoyed his session because this is what I love about teaching: making learning fun.”
“Firstly I would like to say thank you for arranging for Michael to come in. His ideas were inspirational and I would love a class of my own to tell stories to and inspire.”
Students on the B.A. in Teaching and Learning, Northampton University

Brilliant! This was lots more than just storytelling. The children (aged 18 months, and 3 years) were engrossed all the time.
Childminder at a 'Make stories come alive' session for children and adults, Children's Centre, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.

Links and Files

 A flyer for a current training event