Pupils, parents, grannies and grandads gathered together to enjoy delving into a fairy tale world during book week at Sarisbury Infant School.
Book day at Sarisbury Infant School
Families gathered together reading books to one another in different rooms of the school in Barnes Lane to celebrate World Book Day and a week’s long literacy projects studying traditional tales.
Children dressed up as different characters, including princesses, knights, cats, witches, dragons, as well as some more modern fictional figures like Harry Potter and the Gruffalo.
Head teacher Charlotte Weavers dressed as the Prince from Cinderella with a glass slipper for people to try, while deputy head teacher Mandy Grayson donned a goose outfit for the Goose on the Loose – despite pupils believing she had come as the Ugly Duckling.
Dad Gerald Harrison from Park Gate, read with son Jack, aged five, while numerous pupils surrounded them to hear the tales.
“It’s educational and it’s nice for dads to come in,” he said. “I work shifts so I can come in, but most dads works long hours so they only see their children first thing in the morning and last thing at night. So this is a good opportunity to engage with them.”
Representatives from Miller Homes, which is developing the Coldeast site in Sarisbury Green, were invited to come and read to the children, having worked with the school on past projects.
Sophie Davison with sons George, Thing 2, and James, thing 1, from Cat in the Hat
“World book day is a way of focusing on the importance of reading and really getting the whole community together in sharing reading experiences,” said Ms Grayson.
“It’s important that children get to see male role models. It’s about reading stories and keeping the traditional tales alive and keeping story telling alive. It’s something you need to learn forever.”
Steve Bendell from Miller Homes, who attended with colleague Fiona Kinsman, added: “Children can have so much enjoyment out of book. Reading is so, so important in life and hopefully this will encourage them to enjoy it.”
